Sofia Coppola's Somewhere won the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival this evening.
The film charts the tale of an actor (Stephen Dorff) who finds his booze-laden life transformed by the arrival of his estranged young daughter (Elle Fanning).
Chairman of the jury Quentin Tarrantino, said they had been "enchanted" by the film, which was unanimously chosen for the top prize.
Spain's Alex de la Iglesia enjoyed a double triumph, being named best director and screenwriter for The Last Circus (A Sad Trumpet Ballad, Balada Triste de Trompeta), which circus-set plot serves as a parody of the Spanish Civil War.
Vincent Gallo was named best actor for his role in Jerzy Skolimowski's political thriller Essential Killing, while Ariane Labed took the best actress gong for her role as an architect's emotionally stunted daughter in Athina Rachel Tsangari's Attenberg.
Mila Kunis was named as best young actress for her work on Darren Aronofsky's ballet thriller Black Swan. Cult director Monte Hellman (Two-Lane Blacktop) rounded out the winners, taking home a special lion for overall work.
