announced as this year's winner of the Bermuda International Film Festival Jury prize.

Thursday night's award presentation ceremony, held at La Coquille restaurant, brought to a close the third -- and most succesful -- week-long festival to be held on the Island.

Written and directed by Justin Kerrigan, the film depicts the dance culture and the young people involved in it.

Producer Alan Niblo said: "I'm just very pleased to be here to share the experience with a lot of nice people.'' The jury was so impressed by the films entered into the festival, they chose to give a special mention to the US documentary film `Genghis Blues', directed by Adrian and Rolo Belic.

The Bermuda Shorts Award went to `Omar the Short and Devil Doll', which was written and directed by Jarl Olsen.

Following the award ceremony Hollywood actor and jury member George Segal praised the high standards produced by movie makers.

And the American star, who was nominated for an Oscar for his part in `Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf', predicted the Island's annual film fest would eventually become bigger than Cannes.

"They were all really good, but the jury was even better,'' he said.

"They were all very articulate and they took the whole thing very seriously.

"I have never done this before but I have really enjoyed it.

"I had no idea what it was going to be like. It's a lot of fun to go to the movies and it's a lot of fun to see films that I would not have seen or known about otherwise. A lot of these films were very good.'' And he said he hoped one day that winning an award at the Bermuda International Film Festival would lead to automatic recognition.

He added: "For such a small Island, this festival has been impressive. It can only grow and then it will have international significance. When these films go out around the world and they have won at the Bermuda film festival it will mean something. It will take some years to build, just like it did for the Cannes festival.'' The actor also said he had appreciated the great hospitality shown to him during his stay on the Island. He especially wanted to thank Anna Summers, who has driven him around Bermuda during the last week.

Festival director Aideen Ratteray Pryse said it had been a huge success. She added: "Thanks to sponsors like ACE Limited, the Bermuda Department of Tourism, Entertainment Weekly, and the entire cast of volunteers, Bermuda International Film Festival was the best yet.'' See Editorial, Page 4