Gaza film, Malkovich drama vie for Venice top prize

The Venice Film Festival concluded its two-week run with a selection of films covering a spectrum of serious topics, from war and corruption to personal struggles. Among the competition, Israeli documentary "NAZA" and John Malkovich's oddball drama "Wild Horse Nine" stood out. "NAZA," which features Israeli whistleblowers analyzing the mass killing of civilians in Gaza, received a record 25-minute standing ovation during its premiere and is currently the highest-scored film by international critics according to film magazine Screen.

However, "NAZA" faces competition from other well-received films, such as South Korean director Lee Chang-dong's poignant relationship study "Possible Love" and British-Irish director Martin McDonagh's dark comedy "Wild Horse Nine," where Malkovich plays a jaded CIA agent. McDonagh, known for his humorous approach to world issues, sees his acid sense of humor as a coping mechanism.

Other films tackled issues from war, corruption, or economic inequality, often through intensely personal stories of moral compromise. Among the few female-directed films competing was Denmark-Egypt's "Woman Unknown," about a bride-to-be hiding her past relationship with a Nazi. The Golden Lion for best film is one of the industry's most prestigious awards, adding marketing value and improving chances in Hollywood's end-of-year awards.

If Israeli film "NAZA" wins, it would represent a politically charged decision from the jury, headed by US actress-director Maggie Gyllenhaal.