'Brokeback Mountain' wins top Venice award

The Ang lee western takes home the Golden Lion, while George Clooney's new film also picks up two awards.

Sep 13 2005

Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' has won the Golden Lion at the 62nd Venice Film Festival.

The film, based on E Annie Proulx's novella of the same name, stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as a pair of lovelorn cowboys, and beat off stiff competition from George Clooney's hotly tipped political drama 'Good Night. And Good Luck'.

Clooney's film did not leave the festival empty-handed however, taking home the best screenplay award and best actor for David Strathairn's powerful central performance as TV presenter Ed Murrow.

Giovanna Mezzogiorno won the best actress award for 'La Bestia Nel Cuore', while Philippe Garrel was named best director for 'Les Amants Reguliers'.

Elsewhere, the Special Jury Prize went to Abel Ferrara for 'Mary', and Isabelle Huppert was given a special Special Career Lion for her contribution to cinema.

Read Time Out's round-up of the festival here.

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