Spain's Valladolid International Film Festival hasnamed Juan Carlos Frugone as the new director of the event, which this yearcelebrates its 50th anniversary edition (Oct 21-29).

A native of Argentina and an experienced film critic,Frugone was deputy director of Valladolid from 1984 to 1992. He has worked forother festivals including Mar del Plata and Huelva, and has consulted onSpanish and Latin American cinema for Venice, Chicago and Taormina.

Former Valladolid director Fernando Lara left the festivalafter 21 editions when he was appointed to head Spain's national film instituteICAA in December.

As part of Valladolid's anniversary celebrations thisyear, the festival will bestow a 50th Anniversary Prize on the officialselection's winning film, worth Euros 50,000 to be split by the producerand director.

At Valladolid last year Korea's Kim Ki-duk won theGolden Spike award for 3-Iron (Bin-Jip) and Italy's Saverio Costanzo won the SilverSpike for Private.