Sergio Machado's CidadeBaixa (Lower City) won the best fiction feature prize at the RioIntrernational Film Festival and Marcelo Gomes' Cinema, Aspirinas E Urubus (Cinema, Aspirins And Vultures) took home the festival's second, the special jury prizeat the festival's closing ceremony tonight (Thursday).

The awards were handed outthe Odeon BR theatre, where all of 37 local films were screened in competition,as part of the Premiere Brasil section.

Cidade Baixa (Lower City), a steamy love triangle between two friends and a prostitute, also wonthe best actress prize for Alice Braga, niece of Sonia Braga.

Joao Miguel was named bestactor for his role as a Brazilian trying to escape an oppressive drought in Cinema,Aspirinas e Urubus. Both films wereselected for the Un Certain Regard programme at Cannes this year.

Crime Delicado, the story of a theatricalcritic who raises questions about the perception of art and life, picked up twoawards as well. The film earned Beto Brant the best director prize and won thespecial prize from the FIPRESCI jury.

The jury, presided over byVenice Film Festival director Marco Muller, gave Joel Pizzini's 500 Almas the best feature documentary award and Curupira, by Fabio Mendonca and Guilherme Ramalho, the bestshort film prize.

Attendance for the 15 daytotaled 230,000 admissions, about the same number as last year.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Best fiction feature CidadeBaixa (Sergio Machad, director)
Best documentary 500 Almas (JoelPizzini)
Best short film Curupira (FabioMendonca & Guilherme Ramalho)
Best director Beto Brant, Crime Delicado
Best actor Joao Miguel, Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus
BestActress Alice Braga, Cidade Baixa
Special Jury Prize Cinema,Aspirinas e Urubus

Audience awards:
Best fiction feature A Maquina (JoaoFalcao)
Bestdocumentary Do Luto ' Luta (Evaldo Mocarzel)
Best short film Historietas Assombradas (Victor Hugo Borges)

International FIPRESCI CriticsPrizes:
Best Latin Film Battle In Heaven (CarloReygadas)
Special Jury Prize Beto Brant, Crime Delicado