The Sundance Institute and Japanese broadcaster NHKhave announced the winners of the 2005 Sundance/NHK International FilmmakersAwards.

The annual award supports new voices in international cinema and is presentedto emerging directors from four global regions. Recipients get a $10,000 cashaward and a guarantee from NHK to purchase the Japanese television broadcastrights upon completion of their latest project.

Sundance officers provide each recipient with creative support and assistancein seeking out financing and distribution opportunities.

This year's four winning filmmakers will be honoured at today's (27)Sundance/NHK reception and will collect their awards at the 2005 Sundance FilmFestival Awards Ceremony on Jan 29.

Thewinning filmmakers and projects are:

Romanian filmmaker Catalin Mitulescu for How I Spent The End Of The Worldfrom Europe; Argentina's Rodrigo Moreno for The Minder from LatinAmerica; Richard Press for Virtual Love from the United States; and MipoOh for Yomoyama Blues from Japan.

The winners were chosen on the strengths of their next screenplay and past workby an international jury whose members included Walter Salles, Antonia Bird,Stephen Gyllenhaal, Carlos Cuaron, and Shun'ichi Nagasaki.

"Theseawards are one of the significant ways in which the Sundance Institute supportsdistinctive new work through the Feature Film Programme," Sundance Institutefounder and president Robert Redford said in a statement.

"This year, we're pleased to recognise a talented group of filmmakers whoseinspired storytelling represent the best in independent voices from around theglobe."