Venice Film Fest
gives gay award

After four years of negotiations, the Venice Film Festival will include a gay-themed award. The Queer Lion award will be given to the best full-length film in any category that has a gay angle, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Competition director Daniel Casagrande said that he expects about a dozen films to be candidates for the prize.

"We aren't looking for the next Brokeback Mountain," he said. "We are just looking for films that accurately portray gay characters or themes."

A small jury of international judges will determine the winner.

Casagrande said that he was first approached about the idea in 2003 at the Berlin Film Festival, which doles out the Teddy Award. (The Advocate)