The Mill Valley FilmFestival's inaugural audience award for dramatic feature went to Zola Maseko'sApartheid drama Drum.

The strong audience response to the picture has prompted producer ChrisSievernich to begin discussions with North American distributors for a platformrelease.

Sievernich's Armada Pictures International holds worldwide rights to theproject starring Taye Diggs and Jason Flemyng.

Lisa Gay Hamilton's Beah: A Black Woman Speaks received the Audience Award for documentary feature,while Stefan Scaini's Spirit Bear: The Simon Jackson Story collected the Children's FilmFest audience award.

Gaelle Denis' City Paradise wonshort film honours at the festival, which opened with Stephen Frears' MrsHenderson Presents and RichardShepard's The Matador.

Other highlights included tributes to Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Michael Powell,Donald Sutherland, Jeff Daniels and a spotlight on Felicity Huffman for her performancein Transamerica. The festival ran from Oct 6-16.