"The Master" and "Pieta' have become the big winners at the Venice Film Festival after reported controversy.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, "The Master" was expected to win the Golden Lion, which is the top prize in the festival. However, the rules dictate that no film can win more than two major prizes. Since "The Master" had already won the Silver Lion for Directing and the acting award fir co-stars Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman which made it ineligible for more than two awards. The jury delibe rated and decided to take away the Golden Lion and give it to "Pieta."
"Pieta" is a South Korean film by director Kim Ki-duk about a debt collector who tortures those who cannot pay them until he runs into a person who claims to be his mother.
"The Master" is loosely based on the origins of Scientology and founder L. Ron Hubbard. Hoffman accepted the awards on behalf of himself and Phoenix, who went to the Toronto Film Festival to continue promotions for the film.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, controversy is not new to the festival. In 2010, jury president Quentin Tarantino got blasted by the media for giving awards to directors he was friends with. That year he gave the Golden Lion to "Somewhere," a film by his ex-girlfriend Sofia Coppola.
The Best Actress Award went to Israeli actress Hadas Yaron in "Fill the Void," a film about a girl who must decide on whether or not to marry the widower of her sister.
Check out a full list of the awards HERE.
Watch the Trailer for "Pieta" below.
Watch the Trailer for "The Master" Below.
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