AFI FEST 2012 organisers have announced the audience award winners leading up to Thursday’s night’s world premiere closing night gala screening of Lincoln.

Nikolaj Arcel’s Danish official foreign language Oscar submission A Royal Affair won the audience award in the World Cinema section, while Tobias Lindholm’s A Hijacking – also from Denmark – prevailed in the New Auteurs strand.

David Tosh Gitonga’s Nairobi Half Life, which is Kenya’s second ever  foreign language Oscar submission, was named best in show by audiences for the Breakthrough section. The film was also one of three to screen in the inaugural AFI FEST screenings programme at the AFM.

Gabriela Pichler’s East Sleep Die won the grand jury award for the New Auteurs section. Roger Hayn’s Introducing Bobby won best live action short and Oh Willy… from Emma De Swaef and Marc Roels triumphed n the animated short section.

Both shorts are eligible to qualify for their respective categories in the Academy Awards.

“It has been an incredible year in film and we’re grateful for having had the opportunity to showcase so many wonderful films,” said AFI FEST director Jacqueline Lyanga. “Our desire is to have these films reach an even wider audience after these eight festival days, and that our jury and audience awards contribute to building an audience for these films.”

Select award winners will screen again on Thursday at the Chinese 6 Theatres.