Michael Fassbender, whose star status has risen exponentially over the last couple of years, has just been awarded Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival.
He landed the award for his turn as a sex addict in Shame , directed by Steve Hunger McQueen. Fassbender also stars in A Dangerous Method , which was also shown at Venice.
Hong Kong actress Deanie Yip was named Best Actress for A Simple Life , and Russian director Aleksandr Sokurov's Faust took home the Golden Lion for best film.
Jury president Darren Aronofsky said of Faust : "The jurors are seven people from different corners of the world but we were united in our choice and admiration for this winner.
"Some films make you dream, or laugh, or cry, and some, like this one, change your life the moment you see them for the first time."
Shame , A Dangerous Method , A Simple Life and Faust are amongst the offerings at this year's London Film Festival.
For anyone who can't make it to the LFF, Shame opens on 13 January 2012, with A Dangerous Method following on 10 February 2012. A Simple Life and Faust don't currently have UK release dates.
