Golden Lion

French director Agnes Varda's movie about a vagabond girl, "Sans Toit Ni Loi" ("Without a Roof or Law"), won the Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival. The jury awarded a special grand prize, equivalent to second place, to "Tangos--El Exilio de Gardel," an Argentine film directed by Fernado Solanas that traces the life of tango singer and composer Carlos Gardel. Gerard Depardieu was chosen best actor for his tough-guy performance in the French movie, "Police."

Recently awarded the Golden Lion at the 2011 Venice Biennale, Christian Marclay's "The Clock," a 24-hour-long single channel video, assembles thousands of time-referencing clips from films of all genres and eras to create one seamless whole — a film as timepiece, if you will, that is synced with local time wherever it is shown. While snippets of the film have been on view at LACMA since May, the entire film will be screened at one last hurrah in Bing Theater. Bing Theater at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Free, no reservations.

Agnes Martin, a reclusive abstract painter who won the Golden Lion for her contribution to contemporary art at the 1997 Venice Biennale, died Thursday at Plaza de Retiro, a retirement residence in Taos, N.M., where she had lived since 1991. Martin, Canadian-born but a naturalized American citizen since 1940, was 92. Her death was caused by complications of pneumonia, said William Himes, administrator of Plaza de Retiro.

"Another Year" is about the turning wheel of life, an examination of the pleasures and jealousies, disappointments and insecurities, destroyed dreams and rekindled hopes that make up our daily existence. It may sound commonplace, but in the hands of master filmmaker Mike Leigh, the everyday becomes extraordinary. The film is also further proof ? if proof is necessary after six Oscar nominations for writing and directing, a Palme d'Or and a best director award from Cannes, and a Golden Lion from Venice ?

The world economic crisis hasn't dulled the glitz of the 66th edition of the Venice Film Festival, which hosts a lineup rich with Hollywood heavyweights. The 23 films vying for the Golden Lion at this year's festival, all world premieres, include Michael Moore's documentary on the financial crisis, called "Capitalism: A Love Story," and former Gucci designer Tom Ford's directorial debut, "A Single Man," starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.

Tom Ford switched from the catwalk to the red carpet Friday, presenting his directorial debut -- an intimate movie about coping with loss and grief -- at the Venice Film Festival. "A Single Man" stars Colin Firth as a college professor coming to grips with solitude after his partner of 16 years dies. Also starring are Matthew Goode, playing the professor's partner, and Julianne Moore as a longtime friend who harbors an unfulfilled love for Firth's character. The movie was the last of 25 films to screen in competition for the Golden Lion, Venice's top prize.

Recently awarded the Golden Lion at the 2011 Venice Biennale, Christian Marclay's "The Clock," a 24-hour-long single channel video, assembles thousands of time-referencing clips from films of all genres and eras to create one seamless whole — a film as timepiece, if you will, that is synced with local time wherever it is shown. While snippets of the film have been on view at LACMA since May, the entire film will be screened at one last hurrah in Bing Theater. Bing Theater at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Free, no reservations.

Here's a look at some of the winners at this year's festivals. SUNDANCE Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic: "Winter's Bone," directed by Debra Granik World Cinema Jury Prize, Dramatic: "Animal Kingdom," directed by David Michôd Audience Award, U.S. Dramatic: "HappyThankYouMorePlease," directed by Josh Radnor Audience Award, Documentary: "Waiting for 'Superman,'" directed by Davis Guggenheim World Cinema Audience...

"Another Year" is about the turning wheel of life, an examination of the pleasures and jealousies, disappointments and insecurities, destroyed dreams and rekindled hopes that make up our daily existence. It may sound commonplace, but in the hands of master filmmaker Mike Leigh, the everyday becomes extraordinary. The film is also further proof ? if proof is necessary after six Oscar nominations for writing and directing, a Palme d'Or and a best director award from Cannes, and a Golden Lion from Venice ?

"I always have a problem giving films titles," Mike Leigh says, thinking about it. "That comes last, and this film was a real tough one, a bummer. At some stage we thought we should just call it 'Life,' but you can't call it that, it's bloody pretentious. " "Another Year" was the appropriate title eventually selected, but the truth is that Leigh's exceptional new film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, really is about the turning wheel of life as dramatized by the hand of a master, about the pleasures and jealousies, disappointments and insecurities, destroyed dreams and rekindled hopes that make up our daily lives.

Here's a look at some of the winners at this year's festivals. SUNDANCE Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic: "Winter's Bone," directed by Debra Granik World Cinema Jury Prize, Dramatic: "Animal Kingdom," directed by David Michôd Audience Award, U.S. Dramatic: "HappyThankYouMorePlease," directed by Josh Radnor Audience Award, Documentary: "Waiting for 'Superman,'" directed by Davis Guggenheim World Cinema Audience...

"I always have a problem giving films titles," Mike Leigh says, thinking about it. "That comes last, and this film was a real tough one, a bummer. At some stage we thought we should just call it 'Life,' but you can't call it that, it's bloody pretentious. " "Another Year" was the appropriate title eventually selected, but the truth is that Leigh's exceptional new film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, really is about the turning wheel of life as dramatized by the hand of a master, about the pleasures and jealousies, disappointments and insecurities, destroyed dreams and rekindled hopes that make up our daily lives.

DAYTON, Ohio — Smiling Arkansas Pine Bluff players plopped into the black folding chairs at courtside and checked their cellphones for congratulatory messages before heading out the arena door to get on yet another bus. Finally, the Golden Lions had found a trip to their liking, in a 61-44 victory over Winthrop in the NCAA tournament's opening game. The Golden Lions (18-15) will play Duke, the No. 1 seeded-team in the South Regional, on Friday in Jacksonville, Fla. — a place they somehow missed during a season-opening jaunt that nearly did them in. "It seems like we play better on the road than we do at home because we're so used to being on the road," said center Lebaron Weathers said.

Tom Ford switched from the catwalk to the red carpet Friday, presenting his directorial debut -- an intimate movie about coping with loss and grief -- at the Venice Film Festival. "A Single Man" stars Colin Firth as a college professor coming to grips with solitude after his partner of 16 years dies. Also starring are Matthew Goode, playing the professor's partner, and Julianne Moore as a longtime friend who harbors an unfulfilled love for Firth's character. The movie was the last of 25 films to screen in competition for the Golden Lion, Venice's top prize.

The world economic crisis hasn't dulled the glitz of the 66th edition of the Venice Film Festival, which hosts a lineup rich with Hollywood heavyweights. The 23 films vying for the Golden Lion at this year's festival, all world premieres, include Michael Moore's documentary on the financial crisis, called "Capitalism: A Love Story," and former Gucci designer Tom Ford's directorial debut, "A Single Man," starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.

Agnes Martin, a reclusive abstract painter who won the Golden Lion for her contribution to contemporary art at the 1997 Venice Biennale, died Thursday at Plaza de Retiro, a retirement residence in Taos, N.M., where she had lived since 1991. Martin, Canadian-born but a naturalized American citizen since 1940, was 92. Her death was caused by complications of pneumonia, said William Himes, administrator of Plaza de Retiro.

"Summer," a film by French director Eric Rohmer about a young woman's isolation, Wednesday won the Golden Lion prize at the film festival here. "Summer" (a review of the film is on Page 2) also won a separate award from the International Catholic Film Organization. An Italian and a Soviet entry tied for second place.

Thieves have raided an ecological reserve in Brazil and made off with an entire family of one of the world's most endangered species, the rare golden lion tamarin, a wildlife official said Friday. Whitson Jose da Costa, chief warden at the Poco das Antas wildlife reserve in Rio de Janeiro state, said the theft of the four tamarins threatens the future of an international project to save the animal from extinction.

If there's a common quality among the finest national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, it is simplicity. A perfect example is Canada's lone offering: a witty, elegant tribute to the 400th anniversary of Champlain's New France explorations. Spanning six screens, Jana Sterbak's video work, titled "From Here to There," is a sweet epic chronicling contemporary explorations along the banks of the St.

Up in a murky tangle of vines and branches in the Atlantic Forest, a high-pitched squeal breaks the dewy stillness of morning. The branches swish. Out of the shadows bursts a flash of orange-gold--a golden lion tamarin, one of the world's most unusual primate species and one of the last few hundred on earth. The slender monkey gives a sharp, rasping call, a food call, and a female tamarin leaps through the high limbs like a streak of fiery liquid.