Controversy clouds Kim's victory at Venice film festival

VENICE, Italy (AFP) - The Venice film festival wrapped up in controversy on Sunday after Kim Ki Duk took the Golden Lion with his Korean morality tale Pieta amid reports the jury had wanted a different winner.

The Hollywood Reporter said the jury had been prevented from choosing US director Paul Thomas Anderson for the Scientology-inspired The Master because the film was already picking up the best director and best actor awards.

Festival rules state that no one film can win more than two awards and the reports said the jury was therefore forced to consult again and settled on Kim's Pieta, a gut-wrenching condemnation of money-grabbing capitalism.

In an unusual career with no film training that has taken him from being a manual labourer, street artist and trainee preacher to art house master, Kim said he was elated after becoming the first Korean to win the festival.