Belgian-Canadian film takes Karlovy festival top prize

PRAGUE: Belgium-Canadian movie, Un Ange à la Mer (Angel at Sea) has captured the best film award at the 44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech republic.A feature debut by Belgian director Frederic Dumont, the movie tells of a 12-year-old boy living with his parents and brother by the sea whose life is altered when his father tells him a secret.Dumont's film beat out 14 other contenders for the Crystal Globe, which includes a cash prize of $30,000 US.Un Ange à la Mer also garnered another trophy when Olivier Gourmet shared the best actor accolade with American Paul Giamatti for his role in the film Cold Souls.The best actress award was handed to Paprika Steen for Applause from Denmark, while German Andreas Dresen won the directing prize for Whisky mit Wodka (Whiskey with Vodka ) described as a tragic-comedy about a famous actor who discovers a movie director has hired an understudy.The special jury prize went to Bist (Twenty) by Abdolreza Kahani of Iran.A total of 226 films from 64 countries were screened during the eight-day festival, which focuses on productions from central and Eastern Europe.