China's "Still Life," about the giant Three Gorges Dam project and its impact on ordinary people, won the top award at this year's Venice Film Festival, wrapping up an 11-day movie marathon with more than 20 premieres in the main competition reports Reuters.
Dame Helen Mirren was crowned best actress as expected for her portrayal of the Queen in "The Queen," a movie on how Princess Diana's unexpected death in 1997 threw the royal family into crisis. Ben Affleck was named best actor for his role as ill-fated "Superman" actor George Reeves in "Hollywoodland".
Directed by independent film maker Jia Zhang-Ke, "Still Life" was a late entry into the main competition but swept aside hot favourites for the Golden Lion like "The Queen," Emilio Estevez's "Bobby" and Emanuele Crialese's "Golden Door."
The best screenplay prize went to "The Queen's" Peter Morgan, who said his story was faithful to actual events but not an exact historical reconstruction.
Veteran French film maker Alain Resnais won best director for the critically acclaimed "Private Fears in Public Places" and the special jury prize went to "Daratt," Chad's first ever entry in the prestigious competition.
