On second thought

The Venice Film Festival has announced its winners amid some controversy.

Korean director Kim Ki-duk's 'Pieta' took the Biennale's Golden Lion award.
The grim film depicting a violent debt collector reacting to the appearance
of a woman claiming to be his mother, was judged Best Film, ousting Paul
Thomas Anderson's 'The Master' for top prize.

The Silver Lion for Best Director was awarded to Anderson. Both actors
Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman clinched the prize for Best Actor
for their roles in 'The Master'.

It has however been rumoured that in preliminary rounds of judging at the festival,
'The Master' was set to also win the Golden Lion for Best Film, were not it for
revised rules stating that no more than two major awards can be won per film.

The South Korean entry is therefore the winner. Kim Ki-duk accepted the award,
performing a traditional Korean song on stage.

Austrian director Ulrich Seidl's 'Paradies: Glaube' (Paradise: Faith) took home the
Special Jury Prize at the awards ceremony.

photo courtesy of dpa