Venice honours macabre movie master

By Mike Collett-White and Silvia Aloisi

VENICE (Reuters) - Tim Burton, master of macabre movies like "Corpse Bride" and "Edward Scissorhands", was honoured with a career award at the Venice film festival on Wednesday.

Organisers of the festival called Burton "one of America's bravest, most visionary and innovative film-makers".

"I've been to this festival a few times, and each time I've come here I've just had this very special feeling about it," the 49-year-old, sporting his trademark dark glasses, told Reuters in an interview in Venice.

"You grow up in Hollywood and that whole scenario and what you feel here is that there is just passion about movies. So that's what makes it special to me -- it's not about business, it's not about finance, it's about just the love of movies."

Burton was handed a Golden Lion lifetime achievement award by Johnny Depp, star of many of his films, at a glitzy red carpet ceremony.

"He is a rare breed in today's cinema," said Depp, wearing a white tuxedo. "Beyond that he is a true original, a true artist, a true auteur. He's my favourite director and friend."

Burton, watched by his partner and actress Helena Bonham Carter, said the award would be "an inspiration to me forever".

Earlier in the day at a press conference, he had joked that it compared favourably to the famous Oscar statuette, which he has yet to win. "It's actually a lot more beautiful-looking thing than a bald, naked man," he said.