BAHMAN GHOBADI - GOLDEN SHELL WINNER BOOED

GOLDEN SHELL WINNER BOOED

Critically panned French movie MON FILS A MOI (MY SON) was announced as the winner of the prestigious Golden Shell award at Spain's San Sebastian International Film Festival yesterday (30SEP06) - to a chorus of boos. Film critics made thumbs-down gestures, and some even cried, "No, no!" when MARTIAL FOUGERON's work was awarded the top prize. News of the second recipient of the Golden Shell, HALF MOON by Kurdish-Iranian filmmaker BAHMAN GHOBADI, was received more favourably. Mon Fils A Moi also picked up another gong - the film's star NATHALIE BAYE won Best Actress, while Spanish star JUAN DIEGO was awarded the prize for Best Actor for his role in VETE DE MI (LEAVE ME). The Special Jury Prize was awarded to Argentine film EL CAMINO DE SAN DIEGO (THE WAY TO SAN DIEGO), by CARLOS SORIN. US moviemaker TOM DICILLO won the Best Director trophy for his movie DELIRIOUS, which was also honoured with the Best Screenplay prize.