Russia's Alexander Sokurov wins Golden Lion in Venice

Alexander Sokurov's "Faust" has won the main prize - the Golden Lion - of the International Film Festival in Venice.  Darren Anorofsky, the chairman of the jury, said that the film by the Russian director is one of those films that change people forever. "It has struck us all," Anorofsky said.

Photo: AP photo

"I would like to thank my actors, my wonderful composer Andrei Sigle, the artist and the cameraman. Our motion picture is the international work of 38 countries, and we didn't consider ourselves foreigners. I would like to thank the foundations, which made the film possible.  "It gets harder and harder to make a good film without them, without the support of the state," Sokurov said.

Prior to the award ceremony, "Faust" had received two other prizes in Venice.  The film received the award from the Ecumenic jury for showing spiritual and humanitarian problems. In addition, "Faust" received the "Future Film Festival Digital Award," Vesti said.

The Silver Lion prize for best director went to this year's surprise entry at the Lido, Beijing-based Shangjun Cai for "People Mountain People Sea." And the special jury prize went to the Italian-French production "Terraferma," about the influx of migrants to a tiny Italian island, by Emanuele Crialese, The Associated Press said.

"Faust" tells the tale of a professor, played by Johannes Zeiler, who craves knowledge and sells his soul for the love of Margarete, played by Isolda Dychauk. The film marks the final chapter in Sokurov's four-film look at the relationship between man and power that began with "Moloch" in 1999 about Hitler, "Taurus" a year later about Lenin and the 2005 film "The Sun" about Japanese Emperor Hirohito, The AP reports.