Lebanon (2009 film) date. Maoz says many Israeli figures were against "Lebanon" even being featured at the Venice International Film Festival. The Venice jury was chaired by Ang Lee, who had won the Golden Lion award in Venice in 2005 with "Brokeback Mountain" and in 2007 with "Lust, Caution". "Lebanon" competed against 24 other entries. The win in Venice caused a boost in the film's popularity at the Toronto International Film Festival. "The New York Times" described "Lebanon" as "an astonishing piece of cinema". "Variety" magazine said "Lebanon" is "the boldest and best" of recent Israeli films based upon the Lebanon wars. Lebanon
71st Venice International Film Festival 71st Venice International Film Festival The 71st annual Venice International Film Festival took place in Venice, Italy between 27 August to 6 September 2014. The festival opened with Alejandro G. Iñárritu's film "Birdman", and closed with Ann Hui's drama film "The Golden Era". Italian actress Luisa Ranieri hosted the opening and closing nights of the festival. The Swedish film "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence", directed by Roy Andersson, won the Golden Lion, and Joshua Oppenheimer's "The Look of Silence" won the Grand Jury Prize. American filmmakers Thelma Schoonmaker and Frederick Wiseman were the recipients of the