Films from Argentina and the US won the top awards at the Bermuda International Film Festival on Thursday night.

Argentinian comedy 'Music On Hold', directed by Hernan Goldfrid, won the award for best feature film while American director Heather Ross's 'Girls On the Wall' won the best documentary prize.

The prize for the best short film was split between 'Dive' as best documentary short, and 'Because There are Things You will Never Forget', as best narrative short.

This year's jury was made up of former Mid-Ocean News Editor Tim Hodgson, Bermuda College professor Sajni Tolaram, Movieline's senior editor Stu VanAirsdale, JoJo Dye, the marketing and public relations head at Ealing Studios, and Los Angeles-based film director Jim Fall.

Speaking after their deliberations on Thursday, Mr. VanAirsdale spoke of the winning documentary about teenage prison inmates in the US, who are given a shot at redemption by writing and staging a musical based on their own lives. He said: "It is a moving, unaffected portrait of young women under duress, struggling to reclaim their futures through the power of art.

"Not all will succeed, and that honestly — along with the promise of potential — makes for both gripping drama and outstanding nonfiction."

Of the best feature winner Mr. Hodgson said: "What can you expect when a boy with writers' block meets a girl who's nine months pregnant? This is an engaging, beautifully crafted romantic comedy.

"It's a modern spin on a screwball comedy."