The victory will prove popular on the Lido waterfront, where Pieta was one of the hot favorites to scoop the top prize from among 18 main competition films.

Also cheered will be the best actor award that was shared by Hollywood heavyweights Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix for their performances in "The Master", a film loosely based on the founding days of the Church of Scientology.

Hoffman flew to Venice and rushed from the airport to receive the award on his and Phoenix's behalf, and apologized for his disheveled appearance.

He also accepted the Silver Lion for Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed the movie.

Austria's Ulrich Seidl was awarded the runner-up Special Jury Prize for "Paradies: Glaube" ("Paradise: Faith"), and best actress went to Hadas Yaron for Israeli picture "Fill the Void".

The screenplay award was won by Olivier Assayas of France for his 1970s political drama "Apres Mai", and Italy's Daniele Cipri was named the winner of the cinematography category for "E Stato Il Figlio".

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Sophie Hares)

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