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
65th Venice International Film Festival Algerian helmer Tariq Teguia is screening "Inland". Asia could win the Golden Lion for best film for the fourth year running. Leading the Japanese line-up is "Akires to kame" (Achilles and the Tortoise) directed by Takeshi Kitano. Kitano is a favored son in Venice, having already won the 1997 Leone d'Oro for "Hana-bi" (Fireworks) and who was awarded a special prize for his direction of "Zatoichi" in 2003. Films being screen out of competition include "35 Rums" by French director Claire Denis, Iranian film-maker Abbas Kiarostami's film, "Shirin" and an autobiographical documentary by Belgium-born director Agnès Varda. The "record" for