The Forsaken Land, from Sri Lankan director Vimukthi Jayasundara, picked up the bestpicture award at the 3rd World Film Festival of Bangkok on Sunday night (Oct 23).

The best script award wentto Peruvian feature Days Of Santiago,directed by Josue Mendez, while best art direction went to Russian directorIlya Khrzhanovsky's 4. The jury prizewas awarded to Turn Left At The End OfThe World from Israel and the People's Choice Award went to Moroccanproduction Grand Voyage.

Meanwhile, the festivaltogether with the Three Continents Festival in Nantes, France, held the firstever Produire au Sud workshop in South-East Asia. Three projects from thefour-day workshop were selected to meet with potential co-producers andinvestors at the Nantes festival next month.

The three scripts are: A Moment In June, from Thai duo NothThongsriphong and O Nathapon, ForgottenTears from Singaporean director Ellery Ngiam and Ostrich Granny from Malaysia's Bernard Chauly.

The festival, which is organisedby Thailand's Nation newspaper, also adopted a film rating systemwhich marks a first for Thailand. More than 80 films from 20 countries wereclassified either G, PG, PG-13, NC-17 or R.

"If the rating system isproven successful at our festival, we hope a full rating system will be implementedon the national level," said festival director Kriengsak Silakong.

The Wayward Cloud, rated NC-17, closes the festival on Monday (Oct 24). The Asianpremiere of Roman Polanski's Oliver Twistopened the event on Oct 14. Polanski was on hand to receive a Lotus Awardfor his contributions to world cinema.