Venice – Palazzo Grassi: The Gucci Group Award 2008. Each year at Palazzo Grassi, during the Venice Film Festival, the Gucci Group Award is bestowed to an international-acclaimed artist who has made a remarkable contribution to a film in any capacity within the past eighteen months, as a director, actor, screenwriter, set designer, or costume designer. The winner this year is Steve McQueen for the direction of Hunger. He is photographed here with Robert Polet, President and CEO of the Gucci Group and members of the jury; Marco Muller, director of the 65th Venice Film Festival, actress, Isabelle Huppert, Italian Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Franca Sozzani and Yves Saint Laurent’s creative director, Stefano Pilati, not present at the event, visual artist, Jeff Koons.
The Winner of the 2008 Gucci group Award – Steve McQueen. The British visual artist, Steve McQueen is the winner of the third Gucci Group Award. McQueen, who often appears in his own works, is known for his multi-layered fascinating films and his utilization of extreme and unexpected camera angles. Steve McQueen won the Turner Prize in 1999 for his exhibition at the Institute of contemporary Arts, which revealed his original and uncompromising approach to film installation as well as the emotional intensity of his works. He won the Gucci Group Award for the direction of the film Hunger, which is about the last six weeks of the life of Provisional Irish Republican Army hunger striker, Bobby Sands. “Hunger” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where he received the prestigious Camera d’Oro Award.The other Nominees: London based photographer and video and film artist, Issac Julien for his direction of Derek. American visual artist and filmmaker, Julian Schnabel for his direction of Lou reed's Berlin. American Musician, Adam Yauch, also known as MCA for his direction of Gunnin for that #1 Spot.
Seen at the Gucci Group Award 2008. Isabelle Huppert in YSL and Stefano Pilati.
Seen at the Gucci Group Award 2008 – a detail. A detail of Stefano Pilati’s embroidered jacket from his androgynous inspired men’s Yves Saint Laurent collection.Note: The safety pin.
Seen at the Gucci Group Award 2008. Franca Sozzani in Azzedine Alaia and Manolo Blahnik.
Seen at the Gucci Group Award 2008 – a detail. Franca Sozzani’s evening bag was given to her by the sister of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Princess Lalla Hasna.
Seen at the Gucci Group Award 2008. Giulia Masla in Gucci, Bianca Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga in Prada with earings by Osanna Visconti di Modrone and Marta Bastianello Buzzi in Stephan Janson.
Seen at the Gucci Group Award 2008. Servane Giol in a vintage dress.
Seen at the Gucci Group Award 2008 – a detail. Designer, Alessandro Possati decorates jackets for men and for women with subtle “ton sur ton” embroidery on the back. This design was inspired by the decoration for a Venetian iron gate of seventeenth century.
Seen at the Gucci Group Award 2008. Ewa Gorniak Morgan in Wolford and Swarovski, Larry Lovett, Francesca Bortolotto in Dolce e Gabbana and vintage YSL and Olimpia Possati in Balenciaga.