Japan's Isao Ykisada Wins Gold Star at Marrakesh Film Festival

Japan's Isao Ykisada won the "Gold Star" of the Marrakesh Film Festival for his movie "Go." The Marrakesh international Film Festival which downed curtains Sunday evening by the prize awarding ceremony that was chaired by French actress Jeanne Moreau awarded the Jury's Special Prize to Gurinder Chadha (Britain) for "Bent it like Beckham."

Palestinian Clara Khoury received the best actress prize for her role in "Mariage de Rana." Yusikhe Kebozuka was made best male actor for his role in "Go."

Brazil's Fernando Mereilles obtained the festival's staging prize for his "Cite des Dieux"

The script prize went to Bangladesh's Tareque Masud for "L'Oiseau d'Argile"

In the short movies contest, "Chiffons" of Philippine's Romon Mes De Guzman won the Gold Star and "Malkom" of Baker Karim (Sweden), bagged the Jury's Special Prize.

Head of the festival's jury, French actress Jeanne Moreau said with deep emotion how she appreciated being in Marrakesh and how she had been "conquered" by the event.

"The star of Marrakesh will always guide our steps to where we should headÉ on the right path," said the French charismatic star. Among the so many festivals she attended throughout her career, Jeanne Moreau said Marrakesh will remain a unique and unforgettable experience.

For Palestine's film-maker, Hany Abu Assad, the festival was a space of dialogue and overture onto the other. Abu Assad, who received the best actress prize on behalf of Clara Khoury, deplored that fifty years after the death of six million Jews in Nazi camps in Europe, Palestinians are today forced to pay the price of a crime they never committed."

The festival paid homage to cinema icons, US Francis Ford Coppola and David Lynch, who were decorated by King Mohammed VI.