Bloody Sunday picks up top award at Berlin

A controversial film about events surrounding the 'Bloody Sunday' shootings in Londonderry 30 years ago has been recognised with a top award at the Berlin Film Festival.

The film, which stars 'Cold Feet' actor James Nesbitt, beat off competition from 400 other entrants to land the festival's top award – the Golden Bear Award. In making the presentation the judging panel praised the film's "extraordinary authenticity".

Director Paul Greengrass welcomed the award and said that his film is "a bit of a warning from history since September 11". 'Bloody Sunday' has already been honoured at the Sundance Film Festival, gaining the World Cinema Audience Award. 'Bloody Sunday' follows the progress of a civil rights march into the Bogside area of Londonderry on Sunday January 30 1972, and the ensuing carnage when members of Parachute Regiment opened fire on the protestors. Thirteen people were shot and killed by the army that day, and a fourteenth victim would succumb to his injuries later.

Simon Shaps, managing director of Granada, which helped back the film, said: "It was a huge risk-taking project and to win both the Sundance and Berlin Film Festival is a remarkable achievement."

The top prize was shared between Bloody Sunday and Japanese animation feature 'Spirited Away'. Britain also picked up a Golden Bear in the Short Film section for 'At Dawning' by Martin Jones.

In all, films were judged in 23 categories in the competition at the Berlinale, and the 10-member international jury was headed by Indian-born and US-based director Mira Nair – the woman behind 'Monsson Wedding'.

'Bloody Sunday' received four million viewers when it was broadcast for the first time on ITV1 early last month.

(GMcG)