Emma Stone’s Oscar hopes have been given a major boost as the star won the best actress award at Venice Film Festival for her role in La La Land.
The musical film, which also stars Ryan Gosling, tells the story of an aspiring actress Mia and jazz musician Sebastian as they struggle to make ends meet in LA. The film has received rave reviews and even standing ovations.
Black-and-white revenge tale The Woman Who Left by Filipino director Lav Diaz won the Golden Lion prize for best picture, while Andre Konchalovsky and Amat Escalante shared this year’s Silver Lion for best direction for their respective films: Paradise (from Russia and Germany) and The Untamed (from Mexico).
Tom Ford’s noir thriller Nocturnal Animals, which stars Amy Adams, won the grand jury prize.
The trophy for best actor went to Argentina’s Oscar Martinez of The Distinguished Citizen.
Noah Oppenheimer won best screenplay for Jackie, which centres on Jackie Kennedy at the time of John F Kennedy’s assassination and stars Natalie Portman.
A jury led by British director Sam Mendes chose winners from among 20 movies competing at the 73rd annual festival.
The complete list of winners:
Golden Lion: Lav Diaz, The Woman Who Left; Philippines.
Silver Lion director (tie): Andre Konchalovsky, Paradise; Russia, Germany.
Silver Lion director (tie): Amat Escalante, The Untamed; Mexico.
Jury grand prize: Nocturnal Animals, Tom Ford; US.
Special jury prize: The Bad Batch, Ana Lily Amirpour; US.
Actor: Oscar Martinez, The Distinguished Citizen; Argentina, Spain.
Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land; US.
Screenplay: Noah Oppenheim, Jackie; US.
Marcello Mastroianni Price for Young Performer: Paula Beer, Frantz; France.
Luigi De Laurentiis Lion of the Future: The Last of Us, Ala Eddine Slim; Tunisia.
