German director's Locarno triumph

The film, a psychological drama about the love affair between a mechanic and the wife of a smalltown dignitary, was chosen by a majority vote of six to one by the jury, headed by French-Serbian producer Cedomir Kolar. Dilthey's prize includes 90,000 Swiss francs (£38,300), which he will share with the film's producer.

The special jury prize went to the Iranian film Man, Taraneh, Panzdah Sal Daram (I, Taraneh, Am 15), a depiction of the lives of women in Iran. The film also picked up the best actress award for its star, Taraneh Allidousti. Black and white Argentinian drama Tan De Repente (So Suddenly) and Szep Napok (Pleasant Days), a Hungarian film focusing on the lives of small town teenagers, shared the silver Leopard.

The best actor prize went to young Greek actor Giorgos Karayannis for his role in the film Hard Goodbyes, the story of a young boy's ordeal following the death of his father. The special Leopard of Honour award was given to veteran Hollywood director Sydney Pollack. His 1969 film They Shoot Horses Don't They? was screened during the festival.

The 10-day event has a reputation for being a leader in discovering fresh talent. The competition, which began six years ago, has been restricted not only to first or second films by directors, but also to films made by directors on the verge of international recognition. This year 22 films from more than 17 countries were screened.

Those shown out of competition included Ali G Indahouse, Bend It Like Beckham, The Importance of Being Earnest and the new Mel Gibson thriller Signs.