British actress Imelda Staunton receives the Coppa Volpi for the Best Actress at the Fenice theatre in Venice September 11, 2004. Staunton stars in British director Mike Leigh's movie "Vera Drake," which won the Golden Lion for the Best Film at the Venice film festival. (Xinhua)

British director Mike Leigh's "Vera Drake", a movie portraying a back-street abortionist in 1950s London, won the top prize on Saturday for the best film at the 61st Venice International Film Festival.

British stage and film actress Imelda Staunton won the best actress award for her role in the movie.

"In a cynical world, it is a wonderful thing and most reassuring when low-budget, serious, committed, independent European films are recognized and encouraged in this way to reach their audience," said 61-year-old Leigh as he accepted the prize.

附錄：

評委會大獎(銀獅獎)：《出海》(《Mar Adentro》)(西班牙)

最佳導(dǎo)演特別獎(銀獅獎)：金基德 《空房間》(《3-iron》)(韓國)

最佳男演員：賈維爾·巴丹（《出海》）

　　最佳女演員：艾美達(dá)-斯丹頓（《維拉·德雷克》）

　　最佳新人：馬可·盧易斯(Marco Luisi)和托馬索·拉門格(Tommaso Ramenghi) 《緩慢工作》（《Lavorare con lentezza》）

　　杰出技術(shù)貢獻獎：宮崎駿《哈爾的移動城堡》（《Howl's Moving Castle》）(日本)

                                                               (CRIENGLISH.com)

reassuring : restoring confidence and relieving anxiety（令人恢復(fù)信心的，令人安心的）