October 26, 2000 (Los Angeles) -- AFI FEST 2000, Los Angeles' most prestigious film festival, concluded tonight with its annual Awards Ceremony, honoring new talent for their artistry in filmmaking. Festival Director Christian Gaines announced the winners of the Festival and Audience Awards.

"We are overwhelmed by the response of the Los Angeles community to AFI FEST 2000," said director Gaines. "This year, audiences have been exposed to some ground breaking international films that have brought the world to the heart of Hollywood. We salute our filmmakers and thank all that supported the festival."

AFI FEST 2000 kicked off with Joel and Ethan Coen's O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? starring George Clooney, and showcased more than 90 films throughout the festival. The Centerpiece Gala was Julian Schnabel's BEFORE NIGHT FALLS. The festival launched its Asian New Classics section this year with Im Kwon Taek's CHUNHYANG. Other events included the Screenwriters Forum and the Intel Digital Symposium. AFI FEST 2000 celebrated director Philip Kaufman with the Filmmaker Tribute, and closed its 14th year with QUILLS, Kaufman's latest film starring Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet and Joaquin Phoenix.

The three juried festival sections were:

International Competition
New Directions From American Independents
Documentary Competition

European Film Showcase
Latin Cinema Series
Asian New Classics Anime Special Event

The following is a complete list of the winners of AFI FEST 2000: Grand Jury Prize - BLACKBOARDS (Dir./Scr. Samira Makhmalbaf. Prod. Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Marco Muller. Scrs. Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Samira Makhmalbaf.) Awarded to the best feature film in International Competition, presented by the United States Postal Service.

Kodak Vision Award in Cinematography - DP Peter Sova, GANGSTER NO. 1 (Dir. Paul McGuigan. Prods. Norma Heyman and Jonathan Cavendish. Scr. Johnny Ferguson.) Recognizing excellence in cinematography for a film in the International Competition, presented by Eastman Kodak.

New Directions Prize - YOU CAN COUNT ON ME (Dir./Scr. Kenneth Lonergan. Prods. John Hart, Jeff Sharp, Larry Meistrich and Barbara DeFina.) Awarded to the best film in the New Directions From American Independents section, presented by E! Entertainment Television.

* Special Jury Mention for direction to Rob Morrow for MAZE

Best New Writer - Kenneth Lonergan, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME (Dir./Scr. Kenneth Lonergan. Prods. John Hart, Jeff Sharp, Larry Meistrich and Barbara DeFina.) Awarded to a promising new writer in the New Directions From American Independents section, presented by the Writers Guild of America.

Producer to Watch Award - Richard Miller and Ellen Rigas Venetis, SONGCATCHER (Dir./Scr. Maggie Greenwald.) Recognizing the accomplishments and potential of a producer participating in the New Directions From American Independents section.

Discovery Documentary Competition Prize - NAKED STATES (Dir. Arlene Donnelly. Prods. Jennifer Chaiken, Arlene Donnelly and David Nelson.) Awarded to the best documentary in the Documentary Competition.

* Special Jury Mention: GAEA GIRLS (Dirs. Kim Longinotto and Jano Williams.)

The Audience Award, presented by Los Angeles Times, is a balloted award in each of the feature, documentary and short film categories:

Best Feature Film -- LOVE'S A BITCH (AMORES PERROS) (Dir./Prod. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Scr. Guillermo Arriaga.)

Best Documentary Film -- HOMELAND (Dirs./Prods. Jilann Spitzmiller and Hank Rogerson.)

Best Short Film - ORDINARY LOVE (Dir./Scr. Oliver Dieckmann. Prods. Daniela Limmer and Julia Volk.)

Additional sponsors for prizes are Lufthansa, Intel, Palm, Crest National Optical Media, Alaska Airlines, Canyon Café, Trakker Technologies, ShowBIZData, Krispy Kreme, Swiss Army, Borders, Burt's Bees, Roots, Crunch, Jennifer Kaufman and Homework.

Celebrity attendees of AFI FEST 2000 included: Steve Allen, Maria Conchita Alsonso, Michael Apted, Scott Baio, Alan Ball, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, George Clooney, Julie Delpy, Nanette Fabray, Morgan Freeman, Florence Henderson, Charleton Heston, Dennis Hopper, Udo Kier, Dennis Quaid, Rich Little, Karl Malden, James Mangold, Malcolm McDowell, Rob Morrow, Eric Roth, Mark Ruffalo, David O. Russell, Jane Seymour, Sinbad, Dick Van Patten and Kevin Williamson

AFI FEST 2000's Presenting Sponsor is the United States Postal Service. Other sponsors include AT&T Wireless, E! Entertainment Television, Lufthansa, AFI Discovery Documentary Festival, Hollywood & Highland, Los Angeles Times, Intel, Absolut Vodka, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Palm Springs Festival of Arts Cinemas, Texas Instruments-DLP Cinema Technology, Crest National Optical Media, Ebillboards, Variety, Odwalla, Louise's, Producers Guild of America.

AFI is the preeminent national organization dedicated to advancing and preserving the art of film, television and other forms of the moving image. AFI trains the next generation of filmmakers, coordinates nationwide film preservation efforts and explores new technologies in movie making. AFI also presents the best of film through the AFI International Film Festival in Los Angeles, the AFI National Theatre in Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the annual AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor given for a career in film. More information about AFI can be found by visiting its award winning website at www.afionline.org.