TheDistrict,directed by Hungarian Aron Gauder, has taken the highest honours for afeature-length film at this year's festival of animation at Annecy in France(June 6-11). The film looks at rivalHungarian and Gypsy clans against the backdrop of the ghetto in Budapest.

Thetop award for a short film went to The Mysterious Explorations of JasperMorello by Australian director Anthony Lucas. City Paradise byFrench director Gaelle Denis won the special jury prize, and British directorAli Taylor took the Jean-Luc Xiberras prize for a first film with Puleng.The public prize was won by German Stephan-Flinf Muller for his Bow Tie Dutyfor Squareheads.

Thefestival, now in its 29th year, features some 207 films from 32different countries.

Otherawards included: best music video for Badly Drawn Boy's Year of the Ratby Ken Wong; Louise, by Anita Lebeau, which won the Canal J junior juryaward for a short film; Red Sheep by UK's Ranko Adjelic for besteducational film; best advertising or promotional film went to Honda -'Grrr'by Smith and Foulkes from the UK; Oury Atlan, Thibault Berland and DamienFerrie from France took best school film for Overtime; and best film forthe Internet was won by Long Distance Relationship from AustralianBernard Derriman.