And the winners are...

A British film scooped this year's Standard Life Award for the most popular film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2000. Billy Elliot, the story of a boy who sets out to be a ballet dancer against the background of the miner's strike during the Thatcher years - was always a strong contender. It has been one of the few films at this year's festival with a big buzz around it.

Also, a deserved winner of the Best New British Feature, is Paul Pawlikowski with The Last Resort, whose background in documentary and connections with Eastern Europe combine to reveal England in a visually fresh and stimulating way.

Aiden Gillen, of television series Queer As Folk fame, took best actor award in the Low Down (a film that had a bit of a buzz about it, but which our two reviewers were luke-warm about).

We are also in agreement with the Guardian New Director's Award Amores Perros - Nic O and El Topo were mucho impressed by this one, although it does come with a health warning for doggie lovers - many mutts die in it.

Pathe British Performance Award for Best British Newcomer
Aidan Gillen (in The Low Down)

Standard Life audience Award
Billy Elliot

The Michael Powell award for Best New British Feature
Paul Pawlikowski, director of the Last Resort

The Fox Searchlight Award for Best British Short Film
Joint winners - Martin Radich for a A Good Man Is Hard To Find & Alnoor Dewshi for Jomeo & Ruliet

The Guardian New Director's award
Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu for Amores Perros

The McLaren Award for new British Animation
John Williams for Robots - The Animated Docu-Soap