U.S. film "The Wrestler" wins Venice Int'l Film Festival Golden Lion award

U.S. actor Mickey Rourke (L) poses actress Evan Rachel Wood (C) and director Darren Aronofsky during a red carpet event at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

The American Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" has won the Golden Lion for best film award at the 65th Venice International Film Festival this year, the festival organizers announced on Saturday evening.

At the closing ceremony in Film Palace of Lido, Venice, the film awarded the festival's top award stars Mickey Rourke as a wrestler forced into retirement who strikes up a romance with an aging stripper played by Marisa Tomei.

U.S. actress Evan Rachel Wood poses for photographers during a red carpet event at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

The Russian Aleksey German Jr. won the award Silver Lion for best director for "Bumaznyj soldat (Paper Soldier)," a story set in the early days of the space program in the ex-Soviet Union.
The Italian Silvio Orlando was crowned best actor for his role in Italian director Pupi Avati's "Il Papa di Giovanna (Giovanna's Father)," about a father's relationship with his troubled adult daughter.
The France's Dominique Blanc won best actress for playing a jealousy-struck woman in "L'Autre (The Other One)," directed by Patrick Mario Bernard and Pierre Trividic.
This year's Venice International Film Festival started from Aug.27.

U.S. director Darren Aronofsky holds the Golden Lion prize for best movie "The Wrestler" at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

Italian actor Silvio Orlando holds the Volpi Cup prize for best actor at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

French actress Dominique Blanc holds the Volpi Cup prize for best actress at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

U.S. actress Jennifer Lawrence holds the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actress during a photocall at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

U.S. director Darren Aronofsky holds the Golden Lion prize for best movie "The Wrestler" at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

Russian director Aleksei German Jr. poses with the Osella trophy for Best Cinematography (L) and the Silver Lion trophy for best director during a photocall at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

U.S. actor Mickey Rourke arrives with his dog Loki for the award ceremony of the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

German director Werner Schroeter holds Special Lion trophy for overall work during a photocall at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

Ethiopian director Haile Gerima holds the Special Jury Prize and the Osella award for best screenplay for the movie "Teza" during a photocall at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival Sept. 6, 2008.

U.S. actor Mickey Rourke (L) poses with actress Evan Rachel Wood during red carpet event at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

(L-R) U.S. actor Mickey Rourke, director Darren Aronofsky and actress Evan Rachel Wood pose for photographers during a photocall at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

U.S. actress Evan Rachel Wood poses for photographers during a photocall at the Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

U.S. actor Mickey Rourke poses during a photocall at Venice Film Festival Sept. 5, 2008.

Mixed bag of movies vying for Venice top honors

Italian motorcycling ace Valentino Rossi arrives for the screening of the movie “Yuppi Du” at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, yesterday.

A hand-drawn Japanese cartoon, the tale of a clash between native Indians and white settlers in Brazil and a portrayal of Ethiopia's bloody past are favorites to win the Venice film festival's top prize on Saturday.

Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway also impressed critics with an unusually dark role, that of a recovering drug addict in "Rachel Getting Married", in what has otherwise been seen as a weak selection of 21 movies in the main competition.

Revered Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki charmed viewers with "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea", his re-telling of "The Little Mermaid" fairytale.

"For the first time, the public and critics are in agreement over Miyazaki's being an animation masterpiece," wrote film critic Natalia Aspesi.

Were Miyazaki to walk off with the Golden Lion prize for best film, it would be the fourth year in a row an Asian director had done so.

Anne Hathaway arrives in Venice

U.S. actress Anne Hathaway walks out of the airport after her arrival in Venice September 2, 2008. Hathaway stars in the movie "Rachel Getting Married" by director Jonathan Demme which will be shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.

U.S. actress Anne Hathaway walks out of the airport after her arrival in Venice September 2, 2008. Hathaway stars in the movie "Rachel Getting Married" by director Jonathan Demme which will be shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.

U.S. actress Anne Hathaway walks out of the airport after her arrival in Venice September 2, 2008. Hathaway stars in the movie "Rachel Getting Married" by director Jonathan Demme which will be shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.

U.S. actress Anne Hathaway sits in a water taxi during her transfer to her hotel in Venice September 2, 2008. Hathaway stars in the movie "Rachel Getting Married" by director Jonathan Demme which will be shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.

Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers"at Venice

U.S. actress Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers" (La Terra Degli Uomini Rossi) movie, directed Marco Bechis, at the Venice Film Festival September 1, 2008.

U.S. actress Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers" (La Terra Degli Uomini Rossi) movie, directed Marco Bechis, at the Venice Film Festival September 1, 2008.

U.S. actress Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers" (La Terra Degli Uomini Rossi) movie, directed Marco Bechis, at the Venice Film Festival September 1, 2008.

U.S. actress Natalie Portman poses on the red carpet for the "Birdwatchers" (La Terra Degli Uomini Rossi) movie, directed Marco Bechis, at the Venice Film Festival September 1, 2008.

Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival

South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008. The Burning Plain movie by Mexican director Guillermo Arriaga is shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008. The Burning Plain movie by Mexican director Guillermo Arriaga is shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008. The Burning Plain movie by Mexican director Guillermo Arriaga is shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008. The Burning Plain movie by Mexican director Guillermo Arriaga is shown in the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

South African actress Charlize Theron (C) waves next to Portugese actor Joaquim de Almeida (R) and Festival director Marco Mueller during a red carpet event at the Venice Film Festival August 29, 2008.

Theron, Liz Hurley and other celebs at Venice Film Festival

Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron arrives for a party in honour of Italian designer Valentino in Venice August 28, 2008. The film "Valentino: The Last Emperor," about the celebrated Italian designer's last two years at the helm of the fashion house he created, is being shown at the Venice Film Festival.

British actress Liz Hurley poses on the red carpet for the premiere of the movie "Valentino: The Last Emperor" directed by Matt Tyrnauer of the U.S at La Fenice Theatre in Venice August 28, 2008.

British actress Liz Hurley poses with her husband Arun Nayar on the red carpet for the premiere of the movie "Valentino: The Last Emperor" directed by Matt Tyrnauer of the U.S at La Fenice Theatre in Venice August 28, 2008.

Czech model Eva Herzigova and her partner Gregorio Marsiaj attend the premiere of the movie "Valentino: The Last Emperor" directed by Matt Tyrnauer of the U.S at La Fenice Theatre in Venice August 28, 2008.

German actress Diane Kruger poses on the red carpet for the premiere of the movie "Valentino: The Last Emperor" directed by Matt Tyrnauer of the U.S at La Fenice Theatre in Venice August 28, 2008.

Celebs arrive at the Film Festival in Venice

U.S. actor Brad Pitt waves as he arrives at the Film Festival in Venice August 27, 2008. Pitt stars in Ethan and Joel Coen's movie "Burn After Reading" which is being shown out of the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

U.S. actors Brad Pitt (C) and George Clooney (L) pose with British actress Tilda Swinton as they arrive at the Film Festival in Venice August 27, 2008. Pitt, Clooney and Swinton star in Ethan and Joel Coen's movie "Burn After Reading" which is shown out of the competition at the Venice Film Festival.

U.S. actor George Clooney (L) poses with Brad Pitt during a photocall in Venice August 27, 2008. Clooney and Pitt star in Ethan and Joel Coen's movie "Burn After Reading" which is shown out of the competition at the Venice Film Festival.