Emigre film wins Sarajevo prizes

Director Goran Rusinovic flanked by winning actors Leon Lucev (l) and Slavko Stimac

A Croatian film about two men from opposing sides in the Bosnian conflict has scooped the main prizes at the Sarajevo Film Festival.

Buic Riviera gained honours for director Goran Rusinovic, as well as best actor awards for stars Leon Lucev and Slavko Stimac.

The film tells the story of a Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Croat man who meet on a deserted US road.

Actor Kevin Spacey attended the city's 14th festival.

'Great honour'

The best actress award was won by Turkey's Ayca Damagaci for her role in My Marlon and Brando, a film by fellow Turk Huseyin Karabey.

The event, the biggest of its kind in the Balkans, also attracted competition from Slovenia, Serbia, Hungary and Austria, with 10 films contesting the main prize.

A total of 174 films and documentaries were screened during the festival, which began on 15 August.

Rusinovic said it was "a great honour for both the crew and festival itself" to win the Heart of Sarajevo awards.

The movie sees its two protagonists forced to spend 24 hours in each other's company, in which mutual accusations are dredged up from the Bosnian conflict.

The best film award also carried a prize of 25,000 Euros (£19,950), sponsored by the Council of Europe, the human rights and democracy-building organisation.