09.12.2009 | The Associated Press

Israeli film "Lebanon" won the Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice film festival on Saturday.

The festival jury announced the Golden Lion and other prizes Saturday night on the last day of the 11-day screening of films from around the world.

"Lebanon," directed by Samuel Maoz, tells the story of Israeli paratroopers searching a hostile town. Variety described the film as the "boldest and best of the recent mini-wave" of Israeli movies.