The 10-day 5thAnnual Sarasota Film Festival closed on Feb 1, with the Cultural ExpressionsNarrative Film Award going to Terrance Odette's Saint Monica, produced by Sharon McGowen. TheCultural Impressions Documentary Film Award went to Deconstructing The MythOf AIDS, directed andproduced by Gary Null. Special honourable mention in the narrative strand wentto Manfast, directedby Tara Judelle and produced by Vesco Razpopov, and to Gigantic (A Tale OfTwo Johns), directed byAJ Schnack and produced by Shirley Moyers, in the documentary category.

In two specialawards, Vanessa Parise's Kiss The Bride won the Excellence In Film-Making Awardwhile the Excellence In Student Film-making Award went to Florida State UniversityFilm School in Tallahassee.

The audienceawards honoured Spellbound in the best documentary category, directed by Jeff Blitz andproduced by Sean Welch. Best comedy went to Bollywood/Hollywood, directed by Deepa Mehta with DavidHamilton producing. Best drama went to A Beautiful Secret, directed by Leopoldo Laborde andproduced by Moises Jafif and Benito Salerno.

The KodakEmerging Film-maker's Short Film Award - comprising a $1,000 grant fromKodak and $1,000 cash prize courtesy of the Mark P Famiglio Foundation - wasawarded to A Man's Life, directed by Paul Quarrington and produced by Shannon Farr. TheProgrammer's Choice Award went to Last Dance, directed by Mirra Bank and produced byBank and Vic Losic.

The 6th Annual Sarasota FilmFestival is scheduled to run from Jan 23-Feb 1, 2004.