Artist Steve McQueen has won the Gucci Group Award at the Venice Film Festival for his film Hunger, reports the Press Association. The British artist won the Camera d'Or Prize at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year for a movie about the Maze Prison. Hunger concerns the final weeks in the life of Bobby Sands. Thanking those behind the award, McQueen said, “We're living in a time and age where it is all about putting our cards on the table and going for it.” The award, which honours filmmakers from other disciplines, had intense competition. McQueen beat another British nominee, Isaac Julien, a London-based photographer and video and film artist who was nominated for his direction of Derek, a film narrated by Tilda Swinton that highlights the work and importance of the late director Derek Jarman. McQueen also beat out Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys. Yauch was nominated for his direction of Gunnin' for That No. 1 Spot, a Harlem-set documentary that trails eight high school basketball prospects. Julian Schnabel, winner of the 2007 Gucci Group Award, was also nominated for his direction of Lou Reed's Berlin. Members of the 2008 Gucci Group Award selection committee included Marco Muller, artistic director of the Venice Film Festival; Franca Sozzani, editor in chief of Vogue in Italy; the artist Jeff Koons; the actress Isabelle Huppert; and Stefano Pilati, creative director of Yves Saint Laurent.
