AceShowbiz - Director Sofia Coppola has won the top honor at the Venice Film Festival for her movie "Somewhere". The film-maker accepted the Golden Lion on Saturday, September 11 for her story of a bad-boy actor whose life is changed after his young daughter comes to stay, which was inspired by her own experiences as the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola.

Coppola thanked "The Godfather" director in her acceptance speech, saying "Thanks to my dad for teaching me." Quentin Tarantino, chairman of the Italian festival's jury and Coppola's ex-boyfriend, revealed her win was a unanimous choice. He explains, "From that first enchanted screening it grew and grew in our hearts, in our minds, in our affections."

Vincent Gallo was also named the best actor for his role as an American Taliban in "Essential Killing", while Mila Kunis' performance in the ballet thriller "Black Swan" won her the Marcello Mastroianni Award for best young actor or actress. Spain's Alex de la Iglesia was awarded the best director trophy for his horror film, "The Last Circus".