Israeli film 'Lebanon' takes top prize in Venice

VENICE, Italy -- "Lebanon," an Israeli film that recounts Israel's 1982 invasion of the Middle East country through the eyes of four soldiers in a tank, won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.

The festival jury announced the Golden Lion and other prizes on the last day of the 11-day screening of films from around the world. An Iranian film about women and repression took the No. 2 prize, the Silver Lion.

"Lebanon," directed by Samuel Maoz, tells the story of Israeli paratroopers searching a hostile town. The conflict is seen through the binocular-aided eyes of those inside a tank, with their cramped quarters lending an anxious sense of claustrophobia to their viewpoint.

"I dedicate this work to people all over the world that come back from the war safe and sound," the director told the audience at the award ceremony.

Maoz was a young man when he served in the Israeli military during the invasion, which led to a long occupation of southern Lebanon.

Separated 10 years, Hef finally files for divorce

TORONTO -- Hugh Hefner said he waited more than ten years to complete his divorce "because of the children."

"I stayed married not because it was a marriage -- the marriage ended in 1998," he said. "I stayed because she wanted me to."

But now his twin boys are turning 18, so the 83-year-old Playboy magazine founder says, "Now is the time."

On Friday, Hefner filed for divorce from former Playmate of the Year, Kimberly Conrad Hefner. The couple married in 1989, and were legally separated in 1998. Since then, Hefner lived with girlfriends at the Playboy Mansion.

Hefner made the comments at the premiere of his documentary, "Hugh Hefner: Playboy Activist and Rebel," at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Jay-Z and friends perform at NYC benefit concert

NEW YORK -- Since the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11, many people have helped rebuild New York City in different ways. Rapper Jay-Z did it his own way: headlining a star-studded concert at Madison Square Garden.

The 39-year-old Brooklyn native performed to a sold-out crowd Friday night for his "Answer the Call" concert, which paid tribute to the police officers and firefighters who died responding to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The Pledge of Allegiance kicked off the show, followed by "The Star-Spangled Banner" infused with an electric guitar. Jay-Z continued with his own New York anthems -- including "Empire State of Mind"; "Where I'm From," a song about his upbringing in the Marcy housing projects complex; and "Brooklyn Go Hard," a collaboration with alternative singer Santigold.

The rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, went on to perform more than 30 songs from his 11 albums during the two-hour set. The concert aired on Fuse TV, and all proceeds will be donated to the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund.

A myriad of special guests came out to help celebrate, including John Mayer,Mary J. Blige, Rihanna and Kanye West.

Jay-Z's wife, Beyonce, dominated the stage with a swagger-jammed dance routine to her hit song "Diva."