Guillermo del Toro with the Golden Lion for Best Film. Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water was awarded the Golden Lion at the 74th Venice Film Festival on Saturday, a triumphant end to a week’s worth of rave reviews and Oscar buzz. The film, a romantic monster movie starring Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon, premiered on the Lido on August 31, and was quickly hailed by many as the festival’s — and del Toro’s (at least since Pan’s Labyrinth) — best movie. It’s also the first English-language movie to win Venice’s top prize since Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere in 2010. Placing second, the Grand Jury Prize recipient was the Israeli military drama Foxtrot, which similarly wowed critics upon its premiere at Telluride last week.

Other notable winners include Lean on Pete breakout Charlie Plummer for best young performer; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri writer-director Martin McDonagh for best screenplay — a significant boost since he’s emerged as a serious Oscar contender for the movie alongside stars Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell; and the always-excellent Charlotte Rampling, of the Italian drama Hannah, for Best Actress. See the complete list below.

VENICE 74

Golden Lion

The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro

Grand Jury Prize

Foxtrot, directed by Samuel Maoz

Silver Lion — Best Director

Xavier Legrand, Jusqu’à la Garde

Volpi Cup — Best Actress

Charlotte Rampling, Hannah

Volpi Cup — Best Actor

Kamel El Basha, The Insult

Best Screenplay

Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Special Jury Prize

Sweet Country, directed by Warwick Thornton

Marcello Mastroianni Award for for Best New Young Actor or Actress

Charlie Plummer, Lean on Pete

VENICE HORIZONS

Best Film

Nico, 1988, directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli

Best Director

Vahid Jalilvand, No Date, No Signature

Special Jury Prize

Caniba, directed by Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel

Best Actress

Lyna Khoudri, Les Bienheureux

Best Actor

Navid Mohammadzadeh, No Date, No Signature

Best Screenplay

Los Versos Del Olvido, directed by Alireza Khatami

Best Short Film

Gros Chagrin, directed by Céline Devaux

Lion of the Future — “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film

Jusqu’à la Garde, directed by Xavier Legrand

VENICE CLASSICS

Best Restoration

Idi I Smotri, directed by Elem Klimov

Best Documentary on Cinema

The Prince and the Dybbuk, directed by Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosolowski

VENICE VIRTUAL REALITY

Best VR

Arden’s Wake (Expanded), directed by Eugene YK Chung

Best VR Experience

La Camera Insabbiata, directed by Laurie Anderson and Hsin-Chien Huang

Best VR Story

Bloodless, directed by Gina Kim</s>Guillermo del Toro won the Venice Film Festival's top Golden Lion prize on Saturday for his monster thriller "The Shape of Water."

The Mexican director said he hoped his victory would inspire young directors to "have faith in whatever you have faith in."

"In my case, it's monsters," said the 52-year-old director, whose films include "Hellboy" and "Pan's Labyrinth."

The victory gives "The Shape of Water" a boost heading in to Hollywood's awards season.

The film is about a mute young woman, played by Sally Hawkins, who falls for a mysterious sea creature being held at a high-security lab. Many viewers in Venice fell for the movie's audacious mix of genres: It's a monster movie, a Cold War thriller and even, at times, a musical.

A grateful del Toro told an audience at the festival's closing ceremony: "I believe in life. I believe in love and I believe in cinema."

The world's oldest film festival wrapped up Saturday after 11 days that brought stars including George Clooney, Matt Damon and Jennifer Lawrence to the canal-crossed Italian city.

A jury led by American actress Annette Bening chose del Toro's film from among 21 competing at the 74th annual festival — an edition where the world's social divisions and the spectre of climate change resonated through many of the entries.

"The Shape of Water" beat contenders including Clooney's "Suburbicon" and Alexander Payne's "Downsizing."

The runner-up Grand Jury Prize went to Israeli director Samuel Maoz's "Foxtrot," a compelling and surprising study of grief.

France's Xavier Legrand was named best director for his first full-length film "Custody," which also won the festival's first-feature prize.

Palestinian stage veteran Kamel El Basha was named best actor for Lebanese director Ziad Doueiri's drama "The Insult." Britain's Charlotte Rampling took the best actress prize for Andrea Pallaoro's film "Hannah."

Other winners included Warwick Thornton's Australian Western "Sweet Country," which won a Special Jury Prize, and Martin McDonagh's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," which took the trophy for best screenplay.

U.S. actor Charlie Plummer, 18, was named best young performer for portraying a lonely boy who befriends a tired old racehorse in Andrew Haigh's "Lean on Pete."</s>VENICE, Italy — Guillermo del Toro’s monster thriller “The Shape of Water” has won the Venice Film Festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion.

A jury led by American actress Annette Bening chose the film from among 21 competing at the 74th annual festival — an edition where the world’s social divisions and the spectre of climate change resonated through many of the entries.

The runner-up Grand Jury Prize on Saturday went to Israeli director Samuel Maoz’ “Foxtrot.”

Palestinian actor Kamel El Basha and British actress Charlotte Rampling took the festival’s acting trophies.

The world’s oldest film festival wrapped up Saturday after 11 days that brought stars including Clooney, Matt Damon and Jennifer Lawrence to the canal-crossed Italian city.

Del Toro says he hopes his victory will inspire young directors to “have faith in whatever you have faith in — in my case, it’s monsters.”

“The Shape of Water” is a fantastical story about a mute young woman, played by Sally Hawkins, who falls for a mysterious sea creature being held at a high-security lab.

Many viewers in Venice fell for the movie’s audacious mix of genres: It’s a monster movie, a Cold War thriller and even, at times, a musical.

A grateful del Toro told an audience at the festival’s closing ceremony Saturday that “I believe in life. I believe in love and I believe in cinema.”</s>Mexican director Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water, a dark fairy tale in which a mute cleaning lady falls in love with an aquatic creature, won the Golden Lion award for best film at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.

The runner-up grand jury prize went to family tragedy Foxtrot by Israel's Samuel Maoz, while France's Xavier Legrand was picked as best director for his divorce drama Jusqu'a la Garde (Custody).

Charlotte Rampling received the best actress award for her performance in Italian film Hannah, while Palestinian Kamel El Basha took the best actor prize for his role in The Insult.

The award ceremony brings down the curtain on a 10-day movie marathon in which 21 international films featuring top Hollywood talent and auteur directors were in competition for the coveted top prize.
• TIFF 2017 kicks off amid some big changes</s>Guillermo del Toro’s monster thriller The Shape of Water has won the Venice Film Festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion.

A jury led by American actress Annette Bening chose the film from among 21 competing at the 74th annual festival – an edition where the world’s social divisions and the spectre of climate change resonated through many of the entries.

The Shape of Water beat contenders including George Clooney’s Suburbicon and Alexander Payne’s Downsizing. In a four-star review, the Guardian’s Xan Brooks described it as “stylish and charming; red meat for the senses with some sugar on top”.

The runner-up Grand Jury Prize on Saturday went to Israeli director Samuel Maoz’s Foxtrot.

Palestinian actor Kamel El Basha and British actress Charlotte Rampling took the festival’s acting trophies.

The world’s oldest film festival wrapped up on Saturday after 11 days that brought stars including Clooney, Matt Damon and Jennifer Lawrence to the canal-crossed Italian city.</s>Guillermo del Toro is awarded the Golden Lion for best film for 'The Shape Of Water' during the award ceremony at the 74th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. (Ettore Ferrari/ANSA via AP)

Kamel El Basha holds aloft the Volpi Cup for best actor for his role in 'The Insult' during the award ceremony at the 74th Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Xavier Legrand wipes a tear after being awarded the Silver Lion for best director for 'Jusqu' a la garde' or 'Custody' during the award ceremony at the 74th Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Actress Charlotte Rampling holds the Volpi Cup for best actress for her role in 'Hannah' during the award ceremony at the 74th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Guillermo del Toro holds the Golden Lion for best film for 'The Shape Of Water' during the award ceremony at the 74th Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Actress Charlotte Rampling holds the Volpi Cup for best actress for her role in 'Hannah' at the 74th Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Guillermo del Toro is greeted by members of the jury after being awarded the Golden Lion for best film for 'The Shape Of Water' during the award ceremony at the 74th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Guillermo del Toro won the Venice Film Festival's top Golden Lion prize on Saturday for his monster thriller "The Shape of Water."

The Mexican director said he hoped his victory would inspire young directors to "have faith in whatever you have faith in."

"In my case, it's monsters," said the 52-year-old director, whose films include "Hellboy" and "Pan's Labyrinth."

The victory gives "The Shape of Water" a boost heading in to Hollywood's awards season.

The film is about a mute young woman, played by Sally Hawkins, who falls for a mysterious sea creature being held at a high-security lab. Many viewers in Venice fell for the movie's audacious mix of genres: It's a monster movie, a Cold War thriller and even, at times, a musical.

A grateful del Toro told an audience at the festival's closing ceremony: "I believe in life. I believe in love and I believe in cinema."

The world's oldest film festival wrapped up Saturday after 11 days that brought stars including George Clooney, Matt Damon and Jennifer Lawrence to the canal-crossed Italian city.

A jury led by American actress Annette Bening chose del Toro's film from among 21 competing at the 74th annual festival — an edition where the world's social divisions and the specter of climate change resonated through many of the entries.

"The Shape of Water" beat contenders including Clooney's "Suburbicon" and Alexander Payne's "Downsizing."

The runner-up Grand Jury Prize went to Israeli director Samuel Maoz's "Foxtrot," a compelling and surprising study of grief.

France's Xavier Legrand was named best director for his first full-length film "Custody," which also won the festival's first-feature prize.

Palestinian stage veteran Kamel El Basha was named best actor for Lebanese director Ziad Doueiri's drama "The Insult." Britain's Charlotte Rampling took the best actress prize for Andrea Pallaoro's film "Hannah."

Other winners included Warwick Thornton's Australian Western "Sweet Country," which won a Special Jury Prize, and Martin McDonagh's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," which took the trophy for best screenplay.

U.S. actor Charlie Plummer, 18, was named best young performer for portraying a lonely boy who befriends a tired old racehorse in Andrew Haigh's "Lean on Pete."</s>Guillermo del Toro's monster thriller "The Shape of Water" took top prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, capping an 11-day event where the demons of social division and environmental disaster loomed large on the screen.

Del Toro was named winner of the Golden Lion by a jury headed by U.S. actress Annette Bening, beating contenders including George Clooney's "Suburbicon" and Alexander Payne's "Downsizing."

The Mexican director said he hoped his victory would inspire young directors to "have faith in whatever you have faith in."

"In my case, it's monsters," said the 52-year-old director of films rich in demons and other fantastical creatures, including "Hellboy" and "Pan's Labyrinth."

The victory gives immediate awards-season momentum to "The Shape of Water," the story of a mute young woman, played by Sally Hawkins, who falls for a mysterious sea creature being held at a high-security lab. Many viewers in Venice fell for the movie's audacious mix of genres: It's a monster movie, a Cold War thriller, social-issues drama and even, at times, a musical.

Del Toro said his win was a vindication for monster movies, science fiction and other sometimes-derided cinema genres.

"This is a beautiful encouragement, a beautiful act of love, and I think it is something very necessary," he told reporters. "It's about time that we understand that you cannot only legitimize certain genres" and not others.

Del Toro said it had been his "life's mission" to show that genre films can be intelligent, artistic and beautiful.

The 74th edition of the world's oldest film festival brought stars including Clooney, Matt Damon and Jennifer Lawrence to the canal-crossed Italian city's lush Lido island.

Del Toro's film was one of several in the lineup that looked anxiously at humanity's treatment of the Earth and one another.

Similar concerns showed up in the small-town rage depicted in Martin McDonagh's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri"; in the spiritual agonies of Paul Schrader's eco-drama "First Reformed"; in the migrants fleeing war, drought and hunger in Ai Weiwei's documentary "Human Flow"; and in "mother!", Darren Aronofsky's wild parable of Mother Earth under attack.

The festival's runner-up Grand Jury Prize went to Israeli director Samuel Maoz's "Foxtrot," a compelling study of a family's grief and the way trauma echoes through the generations.

Maoz, who won the Golden Lion in 2009 for his war film "Lebanon," has received some negative reaction in Israel because "Foxtrot" is critical of the army, the country's most respected institution.

Maoz said no society could flourish when "critics are considered to be traitors."

"If I criticize the place I live, I do it because I worry," he said. "I do it because I want to protect it. I do it from love."

France's Xavier Legrand was named best director for his first full-length film "Custody," which also won the festival's first-feature prize.

Palestinian stage veteran Kamel El Basha was named best actor for Lebanese director Ziad Doueiri's drama "The Insult." Britain's Charlotte Rampling took the best actress prize for Andrea Pallaoro's film "Hannah."

Other winners included Warwick Thornton's Australian Western "Sweet Country," which won a Special Jury Prize, and McDonagh's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," which took the trophy for best screenplay.

U.S. actor Charlie Plummer, 18, was named best young performer for portraying a lonely boy who befriends a tired old racehorse in Andrew Haigh's "Lean on Pete."

Italian director Susanna Nicchiarelli's "Nico, 1988," a biopic of the former Velvet Underground singer Nico, won the Horizons competition, which focuses on newer directors and edgier fare.

Venice has a track record of launching films toward Hollywood awards success. This year's edition produced a crop of potential acting nominees, including Frances McDormand for "Three Billboards," Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland for "The Leisure Seeker" and Jennifer Lawrence for "mother!"</s>Venice Film Festival Golden Lion goes to Guillermo del Toro's 'The Shape of Water'

The world's oldest film festival has awarded its top prize, the Golden Lion, to a movie that has a strong anti-discrimination message. It beat out 21 other contenders at the glitzy event....</s>Guillermo del Toro’s new film ‘The Shape of Water’ is already tipped to be a major contender at the 2018 awards shows – and now, it’s picked up its first high-profile accolade.

The Venice Film Festival has awarded the Golden Lion, given annually to the best picture shown at the event, to del Toro’s acclaimed fantasy drama, starring Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon and Doug Jones.

Previous Golden Lion winners have included Ang Lee’s ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and ‘Lust, Caution,’ and Darren Aronofsky’s ‘The Wrestler’ – and the accolade marks del Toro’s first major festival win since ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ received the Jury Prize at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

Variety reports that a “visibly moved” del Toro accepted the award, declaring, “I believe in life, I believe in love and I believe in cinema.”

The director – who also co-wrote the film with Vanessa Taylor, and gave up his salary to help get it financed – has spoken widely about his hope that ‘The Shape of Water’s positive message can make a difference in these troubled times.

Del Toro recently described the film – in which a mute janitor (Hawkins) forms a bond with a mysterious humanoid amphibian (Jones) held in the science lab where she works – as “an antidote to the times we’re living in. Everything is so sordid and horrible right now, but this movie is not shy about talking about love and beauty and the good things in life.”

Hopes are high that ‘The Shape of Water’ will be a major contender at the Oscars, the Golden Globes et al in the new year – and, as such, del Toro has delayed the start of production on his next feature, a remake of ‘Fantastic Voyage,’ in order to concentrate on his awards campaign.

‘The Shape of Water’ (currently sitting on a coveted 100% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes) has its UK premiere at the London Film Festival on 10 October, then goes on wide release in the UK from 16 February 2018.

Read More:

 Autumn’s best films that aren’t sequels or remakes

 IT breaking box office records

 New poster for festive horror Better Watch Out</s>Guillermo del Toro holds the Golden Lion for best film for 'The Shape Of Water' during the award ceremony at the 74th Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Director Guillermo del Toro poses for photographers during the red carpet for the closing ceremony at the 74th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Director Guillermo Del Toro poses for photographers during the red carpet for the closing ceremony at the 74th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Director Guillermo Del Toro poses for photographers during the red carpet for the closing ceremony at the 74th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Director Guillermo Del Toro signs autographs during the red carpet for the closing ceremony at the 74th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Director Guillermo Del Toro poses for photographers during the red carpet for the closing ceremony at the 74th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Director Guillermo Del Toro signs autographs during the red carpet for the closing ceremony at the 74th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

Guillermo del Toro is awarded the Golden Lion for best film for 'The Shape Of Water' during the award ceremony at the 74th Venice Film Festival at the Venice Lido, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.

The Latest on the Venice Film Festival (all times local):

Director Guillermo del Toro says his Venice Film Festival victory is a vindication of monster movies, science-fiction movies and other sometimes-derided cinema genres.

Del Toro won the festival's Golden Lion top prize on Saturday for his monster movie "The Shape of Water" — a rare victory at a top cinema festival for a fantasy film. The Mexican director says it's "a beautiful encouragement, a beautiful act of love, and I think it is something very necessary."

The 52-year-old director says it has been his "life's mission" to show that genre films can be intelligent, artistic and beautiful. His previous films include "Hellboy" and "Pan's Labyrinth."

Venice Film Festival winner Guillermo del Toro says he hopes his victory will inspire young directors to "have faith in whatever you have faith in — in my case, it's monsters."

The Mexican director won the festival's Golden Lion for "The Shape of Water," a fantastical story about a mute young woman, played by Sally Hawkins, who falls for a mysterious sea creature being held at a high-security lab.

Many viewers in Venice fell for the movie's audacious mix of genres: It's a monster movie, a Cold War thriller and even, at times, a musical.

A grateful del Toro told an audience at the festival's closing ceremony Saturday that "I believe in life. I believe in love and I believe in cinema."

Guillermo del Toro's monster thriller 'The Shape of Water' has won the Venice Film Festival's top prize, the Golden Lion.

A jury led by American actress Annette Bening chose the film from among 21 competing at the 74th annual festival — an edition where the world's social divisions and the specter of climate change resonated through many of the entries.

The runner-up Grand Jury Prize on Saturday went to Israeli director Samuel Maoz' "Foxtrot."

Palestinian actor Kamel El Basha and British actress Charlotte Rampling took the festival's acting trophies.

The world's oldest film festival wrapped up Saturday after 11 days that brought stars including Clooney, Matt Damon and Jennifer Lawrence to the canal-crossed Italian city.
Film director Guillermo del Toro wins for The Shape of Water.