DER ROTE KAKADU WINS AT MARRAKECH FESTIVAL

German movie DER ROTE KAKADU (THE RED COCKATOO) picked up the Gold Star award at the Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco on Sunday (10DEC06). DOMINIQUE GRAF's romance set in communist East Germany beat 15 movies to claim the best film honour and Best Actor for MAX RIEMELT at the festival. Jury president ROMAN POLANSKI said, "We wanted to reward a movie that was true and recalled a painful period for many nations." Romanian film-maker RADU MUNTEAN's movie HIRTIA VA FI ALBASTRA (THE PAPER WILL BE BLUE) was hailed for Most Original Film Direction, while Senegalese FATOU N'DIAYA was named Best Actress for UN DIMANCHE A KIGALI (A SUNDAY IN KIGALI). Meanwhile, Hollywood star SUSAN SARANDON and Egyptian director TAWFIK SALEH were honoured for their achievements in film.