Venice: Italian documentary ‘Sacro GRA’ looking at life on a Rome highway wins Golden Lion

VENICE, Italy – The Italian film “Sacro GRA,” a documentary about life on the highway that circles Rome by director Francesco Rosi, has won the Golden Lion for best film at the 70th edition of the Venice Film Festival.

The Silver Lion for best director went to Alexandros Avranas of Greece for “Miss Violence” a disturbing look at sexual violence and abuse perpetrated by a grandfather.

Greek actor Themis Panou won the best actor prize for his leading role in “Miss Violence,” and Italian actress Elena Cotta won best actress for her role in Emma Dante’s “A Street in Palermo” during Saturday’s ceremony.

Bernardo Bertolucci presided over the jury that decided the prizes capping the 11-day festival. This year was the first time documentaries were included in the main competition.