Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” wins top prize at Venice Film Fest

VENICE, Italy (AP) — Director Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” a recession-era road trip drama starring Frances McDormand, has won the Golden Lion for best film at the Venice Film Festival, held against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. Zhao and McDormand appeared by video Saturday to accept the award from the United States, where travel restrictions made reaching the Lido difficult if not impossible for many Hollywood filmmakers and actors. Italy’s Pierfrancesco Fabino won best lead actor for “Padrenostro,” (Our Father), an Italian coming-of-age story. Britain’s Vanessa Kirby won best lead actress for “Pieces of a Woman,” a harrowing drama about a home birth. Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa won the Silver Lion for best director for “Wife of a Spy.”