Bermudian film maker Alison Swan has beaten off a host of international directors to pick up the top award at this year's Bermuda International Film Festival.

Her production `Mixing Nia', a romantic comedy about an aspiring novelist, proved to be the filmgoers favourite after picking up the Entertainment Weekly Audience Choice Award at a presentation ceremony last night.

The festival, running for the second year, saw a total of 27 film makers from as far a field as Canada, France and the US, battling it out to pick up awards for best film, best short film and audience choice award.

The week-long event was wrapped up last night with a glittzy awards bash at Hamilton's Surf Club which could have rivalled the very best Hollywood star studded Oscars night shindig.

Walking away with the night's other main award, the Jury Prize, was `Kini and Adams', a feature film by African born French director Idrissa Ouedraogo, which explores the tenuous relationship between two friends trying to escape to the big city.

An international panel of five judges, headed by Bermudian film maker Arthur Rankin, had the tough task of selecting a winner from 13 full length films -- 11 features and two documentaries -- entered in the competition.

But the panel's final decision was not shared by the majority of cinema fans.

Throughout the week the general public had the chance to vote for their favourite film and, when the ballot was finally counted up last night, `Mixing Nia' proved to be the people's choice.

After accepting her award Ms Swan, daughter of former Premier Sir John Swan, said: "Wow -- it's just special to be a Bermudian and to have a venue to show my work -- it's just fantastic.'' "I would just like to thank the organisers of the festival, which has been great this year, they have done a great job. I've been hanging out with lots of film makers and everyone has had a great time.'' The judging panel also decided to give an extra award -- the Special Jury Selection for Outstanding Documentary -- to US production `Green Chimneys'.

Directed by Constance Marks and Bob Eisenhardt the film is a heart wrenching story of three young abandoned and abused boys given one last chance in life.

American director David Birdsell picked up the Bermuda Shorts Award for his quirky seven-minute long black comedy about a man's obsessional love for his pet dog.

Presenting the award Mid-Ocean News editor Tim Hodgson, who judged the 14 entries along with last year's winner Mark Edgington, said: "The BIFF selection committee landed us with a particularly onerous task because the overall quality of the short subjects they chose was excellent.

"Indeed, I think our deliberations probably lasted considerably longer than the combined running times of the 14 films that were screened.'' MOVIE MPC