SOFIA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- "The Mermaid" of Russian director Anna Melikian won the Best Film Award at the 12th edition of the international Sofia Film Festival, local BTA reported Saturday.

    The awards were presented on Saturday night at the biggest hall of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital.

    The award -- a diploma, a figurine and 5,000 euros, is presented for the film's achievement in the art of directing, cinematography and acting.

    The Jameson Award for Bulgarian short film went to "Family Therapy" of Bulgarian director Peter Vulchanov. The awards includes a 6,000-euro package provided by the whiskey maker Jameson.

    The jury's special award went to "The Bird Can't Fly," a co-production of South Africa, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

    "Seamstresses" by Lyudmil Todorov (Bulgaria) took the FIPRESCI award and "4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days" by Cristian Mungiu (Romania) won No Man's Land Award for best Balkan film (going with a box of No Man's Land wine, provided by Damianitza).

    Stefan Arsenijevic took the Cadillac directing award for his "Love and other crimes" (with a prize of 1,000 euros), a co-production of Serbia, Germany, Austria and Slovenia.

    "The World is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner" by Stefan Komandarev (Bulgaria), a co-production of Germany, Slovenia and Hungary, won the Audience' Award.

    Bulgarian film director Vladislav Ikonomov, actor-director Nikita Mikhalkov, musician Milcho Leviev, actor Miki Manojlovic and writer Jean-Claude Carriere were awarded for contribution to world cinema.