Asian films score in Bangkok

The festival has shown 90 films from 20 countries

Asian films have triumphed at the fourth international Bangkok Film Festival, which ended on Sunday.

The prize for best feature film went to Chinese director Zhang Yang for his movie Quitting, based on the story of film star Jia Hongsheng's struggle with drugs addiction.

The time has come for European and Asian cinema to take action

Jean-Jacques Beineix, director

The best director award went to Taiwan's Tsai Ming Liang, whose Taiwanese-French production What Time Is it There? came second in the best feature awards.

Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan won an award for best screenplay for Clouds of May, and Sri Lanka's This is My Moon won the Special Jury prize.

'Phenomenal'

The 10-day festival showed 90 films from 20 countries, all of which were productions by independent film-makers.

The festival judges included Thai director Bhandit Rittakol, American critic Chuck Stephens, Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, Iranian director Jafar Panahi and Thai film critic Anchalee Chaiworaporn.

A festival spokeswoman described audiences as "phenomenal", and festival director Pimpaka Towira said demand had led to a repeat showing of the Indian film Sandstorm.

French film-maker Jean-Jacques Beineix, who was at the festival to present his latest feature Mortal Transfer, used the opportunity to urge European and Asian cinema to unite to offer an alternative to Hollywood "industrial machine".

'Common goal'

The director of "Diva" and "Betty Blue" said: "In its search for instant profit, Hollywood has created such an irritation among the public that the time has come for European and Asian cinema to take action.

"There has to be a common goal among European and Asian cinema, because Hollywood, in its pursuit of instant gratification, has gone too far.

"Cinema is not only a product for consumption," he said.

Although a critic of Hollywood, Mr Beineix said he has agreed to direct an American film called Next Year.

He said that he had overcome his usual reluctance to work in Hollywood because of the strength of the film's script.

"I have decided to walk across the minefield - it is dinner with the devil," he said.