Venice Film Festival

The winners:

Golden Lion: Somewhere- directed by Sofia Coppola
Silver Lion: A Sad Trumpet Ballad- directed by  Alex de la Iglesia
Special Prize: Essential Killing- directed by Jerzy Skolimowski
Coppa Volpi (Best Actor): Vincent Gallo, Essential Killing
Coppa Volpi (Best Actress): Ariane Labed, Attenberg
Marcelo Mastroianni Award (Best Young Actor or Actress): Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Osella (Best Screenplay): Alex de la Iglesia, A Sad Trumpet Ballad
Osella (Best Cinematography): Silent Souls- Mikhail Krichman
European Cinema Award: The Clink of Ice
Golden Lion Cub Award: Barney's Version- directed by Richard J. Lewis
Queer Lion (Best Gay Film): In the Future

Focus Features has much to celebrate winning the top honor from Sofia Coppola's latest dreamscape set on the Sunset Strip's famed Chateau Marmont, as seemingly muted, albeit mostly positive reviews came out in it's initial screening.  It may not be an Oscar contender, but this high achievement gives the film early bragging rights.

In other news, Barney's Version, starring Paul Giamatti will come out later this year thanks to it's recent acquisition by Sony Pictures Classics.

The jury was headed by Quentin Tarantino (an ex of Coppola's), and included writer\director Guillermo Arriaga (21 Grams, Babel), Lithuanian actress Ingeborga Dapkunatite, director Arnaud Desplechin (A Christmas Tale), film composer Danny Elfman, director Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love), and director Gabrielle Salvatores.