Sofia Coppola’s “Somewhere“, the tale of an actor who sees the emptiness of his existence through the eyes of his child, has won the top Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival.

Director Quentin Tarantino headed the jury, which unanimously chose Coppola’s film as the best movie at the 11-day annual festival.

The buzz in the final days of the festival had pegged “Somewhere” as a sure winner, and the jury appeared to have had no doubts, either.

“This film enchanted us from its first screening,” Tarantino said. “It has the artistry we were looking for in a Golden Lion” winner, he told the closing ceremony.

Coppola has described the film, which made its world premiere at Venice, as a “portrait of today’s L.A.”

“Somewhere” is the fourth feature by Coppola, who is also one of the few female directors ever to be nominated for an Academy Award – for “Lost in Translation“.

In “Somewhere”, Stephen Dorff plays a Hollywood star whose somewhat empty life is enriched by the arrival his daughter, played by Elle Fanning. The film takes place nearly entirely in hotels, mostly the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.

source

Thanks to a few of our readers for letting us know about Stephen in T Men’s Fashion Fall 2010 issue. In the interview Stephen talks about playing ‘Uncle’ to Sofia Coppola’s daughter, tattoos and future projects. Photos from the shoot have been added to the gallery. Read the full interview here.

Gallery > Photoshoots > 026

source

I’ve added more than 160 new photos from the 67th Venice Film Festival to the gallery. Stephen, co-star Elle Fanning and Director Sofia Coppola arrived in Venice a few days ago to promote their new film “Somewhere“. The film premiered at the Festival on Friday night.

Gallery > Appearances 2010

Coppola received a standing ovation at a press conference packed with hundreds of journalists following a morning press screening and just hours before the premiere gala on Friday night. First-day audiences already are comparing it with Coppola’s “Lost in Translation,” for which she won an Oscar for best original screenplay, and both films offer up her observations on fame and solitude.

“I think the movie is about his becoming a man,” Dorff said at the press conference.

“A lot of characters I’m interested in are at a transition in life,” Coppola said. “Elle’s character is something real in a world not based on real things.”

“I wanted to write a story from a man’s point of view,” she said. “When I was first writing the script, Stephen came to mind.”

Dorff praised Coppola and described making the film as “one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had. It made me really sad when it ended.”

And rave reviews are pouring in for the movie and for Dorff’s performance.

source