Movies News
British, French films tipped as favourites to win Venice Festival
By DPA
Sep 8, 2006, 18:05 GMT

Venice, Italy - Stephen Frear's The Queen and Private Fears in Public Places, by veteran French director Alain Resnais, emerged Friday among the frontrunners in the race to win the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Reports published a day before the award was to be announced also named Emilio Estevez's Bobby and Italy's La Stella Che Non C'e' (The Missing Star) as possible contenders.

The Queen, a witty portrait of the British royal family's handling of events following the death of Princess Diana, has won over critics thanks especially to a brilliant performance from Helen Mirren in the role of Queen Elizabeth.

Mirren is hotly tipped to pick up the Best Actress award by critics at Italy's Corriere della Sera, should the film not be rewarded with the festival's top prize.

Also strongly in contention is Resnais' movie, an insight into ordinary people's quest for happiness. Resnais is well known in Venice, having picked up a Golden Lion in 1961 and a lifetime achievement award in 1985.

Close behind is Estevez's Bobby, about the killing of United States presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy and featuring a star- studded cast that includes Demi Moore, Anthony Hopkins, Sharon Stone and Estevez's father, Martin Sheen.

Italy's hopes lie squarely on the shoulders of Gianni Amelio and his Missing Star, a movie about an Italian steel mill worker who travels to China to dismantle a malfunctioning blast furnace.

Amelio was the last Italian to win the Golden Lion, back in 1998.

Critics also weren't excluding a surprise victory from one of the five Asian films vying for the festival's top award, which was to be announced on Saturday evening.