Suzhou He (Suzhou River), a second film by Chinese film-maker Ye Lou, picked up the Grand Prize at the 15th Paris Film Festival (March 27 - April 3). The film also walked away with the best actress award for Xun Zhou.

Suzhou became one of the hottest films at this year's European Film Market at the Berlin Film Festival, and also won the VPRO Tiger award at January's Rotterdam festival. The Shanghai-set melodrama, co-produced by Germany's Essential Filmproduktion and sold internationally by The Co-production Office, has been picked up for US distribution by Strand Releasing. French rights have also been snapped up, by Goutte d'Or.

The Paris jury, chaired by Faye Dunaway, gave its Special Prize to French title Andre Le Magnifique, directed by Emmanuel Silvestre and Thibault Staib. The film is produced by Noe Productions and sold on the international market by UGC International.

The best actor award went to Billy Crudup for US title Jesus' Son, directed by Alison MacLean. Norway's Bloody Angels, directed by Karin Julsrud, was given special mention by the Jury.