The Golden Lion (. The prize was introduced in 1954 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most distinguished prizes.
It was previously known as the ''Leone di San Marco'' (Lion of St. Mark) between 1949 and 1953 , and before that from 1947 to 1948 as ''Gran Premio Internazionale di Venezia'' (Great International Prize of Venice). Before that, until 1942 , one of the highest awards was the ''Coppa Mussolini'' (Mussolini Cup).
