 Festival poster | |
| Opening film | Burn After Reading |
|---|---|
| Location | Venice, Italy |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Awards | Golden Lion - The Wrestler |
| Hosted by | Ksenia Rappoport |
| Festival date | 27 August – 6 September 2008 |
| Website | Website |
The 65th annual Venice International Film Festival, held in Venice, Italy, was opened on 27 August 2008 by Burn After Reading,[1] and closed on 6 September 2008.[2] International competition jury, led by Wim Wenders, awarded Golden Lion to The Wrestler, directed by Darren Aronofsky.[2]
Most of the films at the festival were world premieres.[3] Featured in the 65th film festival was a restored version of Federico Fellini's 1952 comedy The White Sheik with forty minutes of newly discovered footage.[4] Films screened out of competition included 35 Shots of Rum by Claire Denis, Abbas Kiarostami's Shirin, and an autobiographical documentary by Agnès Varda.[2] The record for the longest film at the festival went to Philippine director Lav Diaz's Melancholia, with a running time of approximately seven and a half hours, and which was included in the Orizzonti competition section.[3]
77-year-old Italian film director Ermanno Olmi received a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.[5][6][7] The festival was dedicated to the late Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, who was notable for his contributions to Arab cinema.[2] The festival's shorts competition began 1 September 2008 with Natalie Portman's directorial debut, Eve. Kseniya Rappoport was the host of the opening and closing ceremonies.[8]
- ^ "Venice seeks role as Oscars springboard", Ninemsn, Australia - Aug 23, 2008 Archived 2008-08-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d Venice festival line-up revealed - BBC News - Entertainment, 30 July 2008
- ^ a b "PREVIEW: Venice seeks to consolidate role as Oscars springboard" Europe News, By Peter Mayer, Aug 21, 2008 Archived 2008-09-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Boston Herald, By Stephen Schaefer August 24, 2008
- ^ "Ermanno Olmi to receive Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement". Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ "Director finds grace in the common man Critical Appreciation: Ermanno Olmi" Variety, By JAY WEISSBERG, Aug. 22, 2008
- ^ "The 2000s". 19 April 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ "Rappoport to host..." Variety, 8-13-08