At Venice, the Mike Leigh-directed drama Vera Drake was awarded the festival’s top prize as it won the Golden Lion award and the film’s star, Imelda Staunton, was presented with the festival’s Best Actress trophy. "Vera Drake," which is scheduled for an Oct. 10 release in New York and an Oct. 22 expansion, will next screen in the upcoming New York Film Festival.
Also at Venice, the Alejandro Amenabar-directed drama "The Sea Inside" won a pair of honors as it took home the Grand Jury Prize and a Best Actor nod for star Javier Bardem. "The Sea Inside" is also screening this week at the Toronto Film Festival and is scheduled for a Dec. 17 release.
HBO Films/Fine Line’s "Maria Full of Grace," which was released on July 16 and has just crossed the $5 million mark in domestic box office, stole the show at the Deauville Film Festival as it became the first film in the festival’s 30-year history to win the Grand Prize, Critics Awards and Audience Award.
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