WEEKEND UPDATE: Animated movie director Miyazaki Hayao (64) has been awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival. He can now add the prestigious award to his Golden Bear from the 2002 berlin Film Festival and his 2003 Academy Award, both received for the 2001 feature “Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi” (Spirited Away). Miyazaki wasn’t too thrilled when he first heard about winning the award, thinking it only went to “old people” at the end of their careers. But when he heard that active directors like Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg were previous winners, he “humbly accepted it.” He commented, “I appreciate the festival shedding light on animation, which is just a corner of the vast film industry. Many people say animation is facing a turning point as computers are changing the way it has been, but my way of creating animated films will never change.” Festival director Marco Muller enthused about Miyazaki’s use of romaticism and humanism, saying that his films always managed to hook the imagination of adult viewers, awakening their “inner child.” Miyazaki maintains that the aim of his films is to inspire children.
• Arriving in town at the weekend was Hollywood star Renee Zellweger (36). She’s here to promote the latest Ron Howard-directed flick, “Cinderella Man,” which is set to open on September 17. About 300 fans were waiting to greet her arrival at Narita Airport. Also on her way today is actress Jessica Biel (23), who’ll be here to promote “Stealth.” The movie is reportedly strictly for fans of the former model or video games.
• The Yomiuri Giants have reached yet another new low for TV ratings of their live game broadcasts. Their September 7 matchup against the Yakult Swallows managed only a paltry 4.6% audience rating, the first time “Japan’s team” have failed to break the 5% barrier.