Denys Arcand's The Barbarian Invasions was awarded the Golden Kinnaree for best film in the International Competition at this year's Bangkok International Film Festival (Jan 22-Feb 2) while the best director prize went to Jim Sheridan for In America.

The Golden Kinnaree for best actor was shared by the three leads of Li Yang's Blind Shaft - Li Yixiang, Wang Shungbao and Wang Baoqiang - and the best actress prize went to Giovanna Mezzogiorno for her performance in Ferzan Ozpetek's Facing Windows.

Meanwhile the first Golden Kinnaree for best film in the ASEAN section of the festival was awarded to Pen-ek Ratanaruang's Last Life In The Universe.

A total of 13 films vied for awards in the International Competition and were judged by a panel of five industry figures including director Bruce Beresford and Franchise Pictures CEO Elie Samaha. A FIPRESCI jury presided over the ASEAN competition which featured films from ten South-East Asian countries.

Winners in the Asian Shot Film category included Singapore's 3 Feet Apart (best animation), Vietnam's The Anniversary (best live action), Japan's Broken Blossom (best short documentary) and French-Cambodian co-production Mehkong Interior (best short film).

While neither Denys Arcand or Jim Sheridan were on hand to accept their awards, Oliver Stone, who is currently shooting Alexander in Thailand, appeared in person to pick up a Golden Kinnaree for Career Achievement. Both the director and Alexander star Colin Farrell held a press conference after the awards ceremony to talk about how the shoot is progressing.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based DoP Chris Doyle (Hero, In The Mood For Love) picked up the Crystal Lens Award for Achievement in Cinematography. Location co-ordinator Santa Pestonji accepted the Golden Kinnaree Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his father, RD Pestonji, who was a leading figure in the Thai film industry until his death in 1970.

The second edition of the awards was held on Saturday (Jan 31) at the Royal Thai Navy Auditorium in the presence of Princess Ubolrattana. The award takes its name from a Thai mythological figure which is half-bird and half-human.