Tim Burton Day at the Venice Film Festival was a triumph for the director–clips from his upcoming SWEENEY TODD received a rapturous reception, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS was shown in 3-D, and Burton himself was honored with a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement, presented by his friend (and six-time leading man) Johnny Depp. “Tim is a rare breed in today’s cinema: he is a true original, a true artist, a true auteur,” Johnny told the crowd. “He’s my favorite director and friend. So . . . let’s give him the thing, man.” Accepting the Golden Lion, Burton said it was “the best honor I’ve ever received.” Earlier in the day, at a press conference, Burton spoke at some length about the warm reception his films have received at previous Venice festivals and the place Venice holds in his heart: “This city is like cinema itself,” he said. “It’s very, very special.” And to receive its Golden Lion “means a lot to me.” Alluding briefly to the fact that he is several decades younger than the typical recipient of a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement, Burton quipped, “I’m older than I look.”

The Zone thanks everyone who has posted news, pictures, and video from Venice on the site today. To see a larger version of the photo of Johnny and Tim, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2kwnq7 and to see a different photo from the Golden Lion ceremony, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2pbqxe Thanks to Carasun and AnaMaria for those pictures, and emma for the Variety article. You can read that in full on the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet