"From Afar" by Venezuela's Lorenzo Vigas wins Venice Golden Lion

From Afar," the first work by Venezuelan Lorenzo Vigas, on Saturday won the prestigious Golden Lion prize for Best Picture at the 72nd Venice Film Festival. "Viva Venezuela!" the director shouted emotionally after accepting the prize for his movie, an intimate yet social tale about the life of Armando (played by a great Alfredo Castro), a gay dental technician always on the lookout for boys to seduce in a Caracas going through its current tempestuous times. The award came as a complete surprise since the film was not one of the favorites to take the Golden Lion. More…