Throughout the duration of the 68th Venice Film Festival, there were two words on the lips of every critic: Michael Fassbender.
The 34 year-old actor, who was born in Germany and grew up in the Republic of Ireland, starred in two competition films at the festival - David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method and a British film - Steve McQueen's Shame.
It's for the latter, in which he plays a successful New Yorker struggling with sex addiction, that he's been awarded a Golden Lion for Best Actor.
It was the most popular choice of the evening, as even the press room, full of hard-to-please critics, erupted into cheers.
This has been Fassbender's breakthrough year into the mainstream - so far the actor has played the young Magneto in X-Men: First Class and portrays Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre.
But a win at Venice is often a fast track to awards season nominations - both Helen Mirren for The Queen and Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler are previous recipients of this acting prize.
"It's really nice when you've taken a chance on a film and you hope the subject is relevant," Fassbender said as he collected his award.
"Steve McQueen is my hero."
UK success
Shame is a controversial film which will shock some audiences.
Fassbender is naked, physically and emotionally, as he struggles with his addictions and his inability to form relationships. His sister, played by Carey Mulligan, is the only human he can relate to.
Michael Fassbender with Shame director Steve McQueen at the Venice Film Festival Fassbender and McQueen first worked together on 2008's Hunger
Yet some critics claim that in the hands of British artist and director McQueen, pornography is transformed into art - and the movie won a seven minute standing ovation at its world premiere in Venice.
It's already been sold in the USA.
The director and actor have a close relationship after making another arthouse hit, Hunger, together in 2008.
"I would only have made this film with Michael Fassbender," McQueen declared. "No other actor would have had the capability of doing it."
Fassbender's award is a critical endorsement for Shame.
Associated Press reporter Sheri Jennings described it as "the buzz film of the festival".
Yet it didn't win the Golden Lion for Best Film which went to Russian director Alexander Sokurov's Faust.
But it's another hit for the now defunct UK Film Council, which part-funded the movie, giving Steve McQueen carte blanche to do exactly as he wished.
It also gave money to another British film that scooped an award at Venice, Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights.
Arnold's long-term director of photography, Robbie Ryan, won best cinematography for the film, where the Yorkshire landscape was described as "another character".
Wuthering Heights also received a long standing ovation at its premiere.
It offers a less traditional version of the classic book, with little dialogue. Arnold cast teenagers who had never acted before in the roles of Cathy and Heathcliff.
Shame and Wuthering Heights may have been the only British films to win accolades at Venice, but the festival director Marco Mueller claimed "if there is a national cinema represented here at Venice in 2011, it is the UK's".
Keira Knightley and Kate Winslet both had leading roles in Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method and Roman Polanski's Carnage respectively.
Madonna cast rising stars Abbie Cornish, Andrea Riseborough and James D'Arcy in her period piece W.E.
And British ensemble piece Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was also in competition - and there was disappointment this stylish spy thriller came away empty-handed.
Playing safe
Darren Aronofsky Jury president Darren Aronofsky praised the quality of films this year
Gary Oldman, who plays agent George Smiley, had been seen as another candidate for best actor.
Michael Fassbender paid tribute to him in his winning speech, saying: "I have been following Gary Oldman's career since I was 14, and I feel very, very humble tonight."
Tinker Tailor may draw some consolation from Darren Aronofsky, the president of this year's jury, who explained that the quality of films at this year's event was both "exhilarating and maddening as the standard is so high. Films that would normally walk away with a major prize will go away empty-handed".
Indeed, there was surprise that Roman Polanski's Carnage which had won rave reviews, wasn't included on the winning list.
Instead other awards went to Italian refugee movie Terrafirma and Japanese tragic-comedy Himizu, which was filmed in the rubble after the earthquake and tsunami this year.
What is certain about this year's event is, that after fears it was sinking as Hollywood deserted to the rival festival at Toronto, it has managed to swim - with about 50 world premieres being held over the last 10 days.
Ironically, it's been helped by the economic downturn as major studios commission "safe" box office bets.
Many A-list actors have turned to arthouse directors like Polanski and Cronenberg for fresh challenges - and these are the kind of films that show at Venice.
It is ironic too, that the UK Film Council used to steer its movies to premiere at Toronto, but now no longer exists.
If that policy had still been in place, Michael Fassbender wouldn't have his Golden Lion, which he was last seen using as a cup for beer.
BBC
Arsenal will fly out to Italy this afternoon with manager Arsene Wenger facing another touchline ban for tomorrow's crunch Champions League play-off against Udinese, which could see the Gunners' nightmare start to the season take another turn for the worse.
Wenger was found guilty of failing to abide by UEFA rules surrounding his original ban - imposed after last season's last-16 defeat to Barcelona when he had criticised the referee - after he passed messages to the coaching staff at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg, before being warned not to continue by match delegates at half-time.
UEFA also fined Arsenal 10,000 euros (£8,743) for the improper conduct of their officials during the match.
Arsenal, though, maintain officials from Europe's governing body had told them in the build-up to the game Wenger would be permitted to relay instructions to assistant manager Pat Rice through first-team coach Boro Primorac, who was in telephone contact with the Arsenal bench, and the club will appeal.
Because of the ban, Wenger decided against fulfilling his post-match media commitments, a pattern which he could well follow again at the Stadio Friuli should UEFA uphold their decision.
The news is the latest blow to the Gunners who are going through one of the toughest spells of Wenger's tenure.
Arsenal were beaten 2-0 at home by Liverpool on Saturday, when they were without Alex Song and Gervinho, both serving suspensions in the fall-out from the ill-tempered goalless draw at Newcastle.
However, the duo will be available for the European tie, along with captain Robin van Persie, who was banned for the first leg after his red card in the Nou Camp.
Should Wenger again select contract rebel Samir Nasri, it would cup-tie the France midfielder and prevent him for playing with another team in the competition, as talk of a £22million switch to Manchester City continue.
Arsenal, though, could see midfielder Jack Wilshere return from his ankle problem, while Johan Djourou's recovery from a hamstring complaint could offset the loss of Laurent Koscielny, who hobbled off on Saturday following a back spasm.
Spanish teenager Ignasi Miquel came on to make his Premier League debut against Liverpool.
The 18-year-old centre-half insists all is not yet lost for the Gunners.
"We have to work hard and forget about this result," he said.
"Next week we have Manchester United and, firstly, Udinese in the Champions League. It is pointless to think about [the Liverpool] result.
"We have to be positive because Udinese have to score two goals. We have to be positive, give 100 per cent and, if we do that, I am sure we can win it."
Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to be linked with a string of players, with Wenger said to be ready to spend the £30million received from Barcelona for captain Cesc Fabregas.
Everton defender Phil Jagielka is reported to be on the Arsenal manager's shortlist, along with Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila and Lille forward Eden Hazard.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp believes chairman Daniel Levy needs to have face-to-face discussions with wantaway Luka Modric before the player will focus back on his football again.
Modric missed last night's 3-0 defeat at Manchester United after informing Redknapp he was not in the right frame of mind to play at Old Trafford.
It has been claimed the Croatian star has effectively gone on strike in order to force through a move to Chelsea.
Redknapp would prefer to believe Modric has just got "confused" faced with the opportunity to treble his wages.
However, after being told by Levy at a summer meeting he would not be sold under any circumstances, Redknapp believes clear-the-air talks are required, with a new contract to follow.
"The chairman has to sit down and have a chat with him," said the Spurs chief.
"They probably fell out a little bit over that first meeting.
"If they can have a meeting and resolve the whole situation and Daniel tells him we need him, he is important and that we are ambitious and will bring one or two players in, you might find the boy will be okay.
"The chairman has also said he will look at his contract in a month or two. He told me he would do that."
If Modric is not allowed to go, Redknapp knows he may have some reassurance of his own to deliver.
However, the Spurs chief is confident he can pick the player up once the August 31 deadline has passed.
"If anyone can pick him up, I can," said Redknapp. "I have a great relationship with him.
"People have to understand it is not an easy situation.
"If someone offered to treble anyone's wages, they would find it difficult, wherever they worked. That is the situation the boy is in.
"If someone offers £150,000 a week rather than £50,000, you are going to have your head turned.
"Some players can handle it. I know players who have caused havoc in the dressing room in order to get a move. I have seen it so many times.
"But he wouldn't cause anyone a problem.
"Let's be truthful. He wanted to go, but he has just got confused with it all."
John Obi Mikel's father has been released by the kidnappers who abducted him 10 days ago, the Chelsea midfielder's agent has confirmed.
Michael Obi, who runs a transport company, had not been seen or heard from since he failed to return home from work in Jos, the capital of Plateau State in central Nigeria, on August 12.
He is thought to have been found in Kano, 180 miles north of where he was abducted and reports in Nigeria claim his abductors have been arrested by police.
Mikel's management company SEM released a statement confirming that the Nigerian international's father had been released.
"SEM are delighted to confirm that earlier today Michael Obi called his family to advise them that he had been released by his abductors," the statement read.
"SEM have waited until now to release this information, to ensure that Michael was safe. John Obi Mikel would like to thank everyone in Nigeria, his family & friends, Chelsea FC & their fans & his agents for their total support during this terrible time. A full statement of the situation will be released by SEM tomorrow morning."
The statement does not reveal whether a ransom was paid.
Michael Obi is reported to have told the BBC shortly after his release: "I am very stressed."
Mikel continued to play for Chelsea during his father's disappearance, appearing in the Blues' Barclays Premier League opener at Stoke before their home 2-1 win over West Brom on Saturday.
Chelsea released a statement tonight offering their support for Mikel's family.
"All at Chelsea Football Club are delighted that John Mikel Obi's father, Michael, has been found safe in Nigeria," the statement read.
"Mikel has shown outstanding commitment and professionalism during this most difficult of times, and the club will continue to offer its full support to him and his family."
The US has started to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
Security is tight following warnings of a possible al-Qaeda attack.
The US embassy in Afghanistan has begun the ceremonies, with events due later in the sites where four hijacked planes struck, killing nearly 3,000 people.
An official memorial to those who died is to be unveiled at the site of the World Trade Center, whose twin towers were destroyed in the attacks.
Metal barriers have been erected on roads near the World Trade Center, while police in New York and Washington are stopping and searching large vehicles entering bridges and tunnels.
The CIA received a warning last week that al-Qaeda may have sent attackers, some of them possibly US citizens, to bomb one of the cities.
The warning was described by officials as "credible but unconfirmed".
President Barack Obama has said the US remains vigilant against terrorism.
As in previous anniversaries, the names of all the victims will be read out at the New York event.
There will be pauses for silence at the exact times when two airliners smashed into the World Trade Center's twin towers, the third was crashed into the Pentagon and the fourth was forced into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, by passengers who fought with the hijackers.
BBC
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