Venezuelan first-time director wins Venice Golden Lion

Venezuelan movie “From Afar” has won the best film of Golden Lion at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival.

The movie “From Afar” that won the best at the closing ceremony at Lido Island, Italy on Saturday (local time) was the first-feature of Venezuelan new director Lorenzo Vigas (aged 48, photo). The film describes a man in his 50s who used to buy a young man to make friends and has changed since he met a teenage boy named Helder. The Silver Lion for best direction went to Argentinian director Pablo Trapero`s El Clan, which depicts the true story of gangster family in Buenos Aires.

Actor Fabrice Luchini won the Coppa Volpi for best actor in the film “L’Hermine”, while Valeria Golino for best actress in “Per Amor Vostro` (For your love).” The top Horizons prize went to U.S. director Jake Mahaffy’s “Free in Deed.”