Mexican Juan Carlos Rulfo's documentary In the Pit (En elHoyo)won the prize for best film in the internationalcompetition at the eighth Buenos Aires International Festival of IndependentCinema (BAFICI), while German Valeska Grisebach's Longing took theSpecial Jury Award,

Argentinian Lorena Munoz's painting documentary LosProximos Pasados (Next to be Gone) received the Fipresci prize, andIrish Perry Ogden's Pavee Lackeen: A Traveller Girl was awarded by theHuman Rights Jury.

Glue,Alexis dos Santos' first feature, won the Argentinian Official Selection, andCarlos Casas' Soledad al Fin del Mundo (Solitude at the End of theWorld) took the second prize. Both films received $ 26.000 (Pesos 80.000). Glueand In the Pit also took the Audience Awards.

The 13-day festival, Argentina's biggest in terms offilms and attendance, broke several records: 477 films (353 features and 124shorts) from 49 countries were shown; 315 foreign directors, producers,distributors, actors and festival programmers from 38 countries participated atthe event, and 234.200 tickets were sold, a 27 percent increase compared withlast year's figures.

Buenos Aires Lab (BAL), one of the world's biggest marketsfor Europeans companies looking for Latin American co-production projects, wasa major success. A total of 70 foreign producers participated to considerfinancing 35 projects.

AlejoTaube's Agua y Sal (Water and Salt) won the £5000 prize sponsored by Arte (France), while Estrellas (Stars), by FedericoLeon and Marcos Martinez, and La Novia Errante (The Errant Bride),by Ana Katz, were awarded at the Work in Progress andreceived several post-production services.

Nacidos Bajo Fuego (Born Under Fire), by Colombian Jairo Eduardo Carillo, and Payasas Muertas (DeadClowns), by Ana Rivoira (Argentina), were selected at the Co-ProductionForum, and the Binger BAL prize for a project in development went to ElAcuario (The Aquarium), by Brazilian Sergio Machado Ribeiro dos Santos.