The 23rd Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) signed off on Sunday night [Feb 3] with the traditional awards ceremony in which the Panavision Spirit Award For Independent Cinema was awarded to Richie Mehta's drama Amal.

The Heineken Red Star Award in honour of 'the most progressive and gifted independent film director' went to Tao Ruspoli's Fix with Olivia Wilde, which received its world premiere several weeks ago in Slamdance.

Martin Theo Krieger's German comedy Beautiful Bitch was named best foreign film while the Nueva Vision Award for best Spanish-language film went to Pavel Giroud's Cuban drama La Edad De La Peseta (The Silly Age).

The Iconix Video Award for Best Documentary went to Thomas G Miller's ONE BAD CAT: The Reverend Albert Wagner Story and the Fund For Santa Barbara Social Justice Award Sponsored by The Fund For Santa Barbara was awarded to Anne Slick and Danielle Bernstein's documentary When Clouds Clear (Despues De La Neblina).

The Bruce Corwin Award For Best Live Action Short Film went to Aquarium by Rob Meyer and the Bruce Corwin Award For Best Animation went to Joe Tucker's For The Love Of God.

The SBIFF ran from Jan 24 to Feb 3. For full details about the screening, schedule of events and other winners visit www.sbfilmfestival.org.

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