Aco-production from Kyrgyzstan and Germany has taken the top prize at the fifthannual Marrakech International Film Festival.

ErnestAbdyshaparov's Saratan wasawarded the Etoile d'Or on Saturday night.

The comedytakes place in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan and was one of a field of 15 competingfilms during the week-long festival.

The juryprize was a tie for festival favourite - and Canadian Oscar submission - C.R.A.Z.Y directed by Jean-Marc Vallee and Bal Al Maqam by Syria's Mohamed Malas.

Britishactress Shirley Henderson was awarded the best actress trophy for Frozen by Juliet McKoen with Daniel Day Lewis takingthe best actor prize for TheBallad Of Jack And Rose directedby his wife Rebecca Miller.

The jury presidentwas French director Jean-Jacques Annaud.

Thefestival was also notable for the presence of veteran directors Martin Scorseseand Abbas Kiarostami, both of whom were the subject of tributes.