Carlos Diegues' Orfeu scooped the best film award at the Grand Prize Cinema Brazil (Feb12) in the city of Petropolis.

Diegues' film beat off competition from Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas' The First Day (O Primeiro Dia), Helvecio Ratton's Love & Co (Amor & Cia), Aluizio Abranches' A Glass Of Rage (Um Copo De Colera) and Luiz Villaca's Behind The Curtain (Por Tras Do Pano).

However Salles and Thomas won in the best director and best screenplay categories for their joint effort. Best TV series went to O Auto Da Compadecida and Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother picked up yet another prize, winning in the best foreign film category.

Created by Brazil's Ministry of Culture as a motivation to local film professionals, the awards are voted on by a board of 287 members including industry professionals, journalists, critics and opinion leaders from all over Brazil.