British artist scoops Venice prize

12:09am Tuesday 2nd September 2008

Visual artist Steve McQueen has won another prize for his film Hunger.

The British artist, who won the Camera d'Or Prize at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year for the movie about the Maze Prison, was handed the Gucci Group Award during the Venice Film Festival.

Hunger concerns the final weeks in the life of hunger striker Bobby Sands.

McQueen thanked those behind the award. He said: "We're living in a time and age where it is all about putting our cards on the table and going for it... thank you very much."

McQueen won the Turner Prize in 1999 for an exhibition.

He beat another British nominee, Isaac Julien, a London-based photographer and video and film artist who was nominated for his direction of Derek, a Tilda Swinton written and narrated film which highlights the work and importance of the late director Derek Jarman.

He also beat founding member of hip hop act the Beastie Boys Adam Yauch.

Yauch was nominated for his direction of Gunnin' For That No1 Spot, a Harlem set documentary that trailed 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 Italy, the artist Jess Koons, the actress Isabelle Huppert and Stefano Pilati, creative director of Yves Saint Laurent.