'Cherkess' Sweeps Angel Film Awards

COLOGNE, Germany -- The Jordanian historical epic Cherkess swept the 2010 Angel Film Awards, the Monaco-based festival devoted to non-violent cinema, winning seven awards including best film and best director for helmer Mohy Quandour.

Cherkess is a love story set against the backdrop of a culture clash between the Bedouin and Cherkess people in 1900 in the area now known as Jordan. The Angel Film jury also handed Cherkess the best original story prize, best supporting actor for Mohadeen Komakhov and best debut for the film's star Sahar Bishara.

Japanese actor Ryo Horikawa, best known for his voice work in the animated Dragon Ball series, won best actor for his performance as an aging rock singer in Asakusa Daydreams, which also picked up the best actress prize for Ai Tamura playing his daughter. The feature, which was shot in one extended take, grabbed the Angel Independent Sprit Award.

British feature So What Does Your MP Do? won Angel Film Awards for best documentary and narration.

Another Brit entry, All the Way Up, directed by actor David Jason (Only Fools and Horses), got the best short film nod, with Jason taking the honors for best director of a short.