Venice Film Festival comes to a close with awards ceremony

By LINDSEY BAHR
AP Film Writer

The 79th edition of the Venice International Film Festival came to a close Saturday. The jury, led by actor Julianne Moore, selected the winners from 23 films in competition that included many Oscar hopefuls. The Oscar-winner presided over a jury that included  French director Audrey Diwan, whose film “Happening” won the Golden Lion last year, author Kazuo Ishiguro and Iranian actor Leila Hatami. Premiering in competition at Venice has launched many successful Oscar campaigns in recent years, leading to nominations and even wins. Seven times in the last nine years has the best director Oscar gone to a film that world premiered at the festival.