We have announced the names of the winners of this year's competition at the final press conference of the 9th Zagreb Film Festival.

The Golden Pram Award for the best film in the feature film category went to the Austrian film 'Michael' by Markus Schleinzer.

The Special Mention Award in the same category was given to the film ‘The Exchange’ directed by the Israeli author Eran Kolirin.

Ilker Çatak's and Johannes Duncker’s film ‘When Namibia was a City... ‘ won the award for the best short film.

The Golden Pram Award for the best documentary film went to the Polish film ‘At the Edge of Russia’ by MichaÂł Marczak.

The Special Mention Award in the documentary competition the jury gave to the Croatian film ‘Land of Knowledge’ directed by Saša Ban.

The Golden Pram Award for the best Croatian film in the Checkers programme went to ‘Komba’ by Tin Ĺ˝aniæ.

The winners of Palunko are also known. The first award goes to Lana Brèiæ for 'Jars', while 'Eva's Game' by Sanja �uriæ and 'The Train to the Unknown' by Hrvoje Marin received praise. The jury deciding on the winner of the prize was made up of Dean Kotiga, Hrvoje Magiæ and Juraj Lerotiæ.

The closing award ceremony will be held tonight at 8pm, at the Europa Cinema, within which David Cronenberg's new film ‘A Dangerous Method’ will be screened.

Read the detailed description of the reasons behind the award-giving process below.

WINNERS OF THE 9th ZAGREB FILM FESTIVAL

FEATURE FILM PROGRAMME:

Golden pram award and 4000 € for the best feature film

Michael

Markus Schleinzer / Austrija / 2011 / 96'

We struggled to find a winner in this selection in which a number of films were very strong and affecting. Michael is a difficult and deeply disturbing film about a human being that no one can like, a pedophile, whose apparently banal life is described with chilling irony yet without any artificial dramatic emphasis. A perfectly realised and profoundly terrifying portrait of evil.

Special mention in the feature film competition

The Exchange / Hahithalfut

Eran Kolirin / Israel, Germany / 2011 / 94'

The Exchange has a brave and intriguing concept. With a playful tone the film questions the very texture of reality, the meaning of our lives by showing how the places that are most familiar and comfortable to us, such as our own home, can become spaces for discovery and existential danger.

SHORT FILM PROGRAMME:

Golden pram award and 1000 € for the best short film

When Namibia was a City... / Als Namibia eine Stadt war...

Ilker Çatak & Johannes Duncker / Germany / 2010 / 24'

When Namibia Was a City… is about a retired man who realises that finding meaning for his life is harder than he expected. A delicate family portrait with a gently amusing tone and characters that are precisely drawn.

DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMME:

Golden pram award and 1000 € for the best documentary film

At the Edge of Russia / Koniec Rosji

MichaÂł Marczak / Poland / 2010 / 72'

The best documentary goes to a film which drew us into the intimite, simple and very old world of five men living in an isolated wilderness. We admired the staying power of the filmmakers who survived months in this stark and harsh universe, and yet managed to produce a beautifully crafted and intimately observed film full of humour and emotion.

Special mention in the documentary competition

Land of knowledge / Zemlja znanja

Saša Ban / Croatia / 2011 / 65'

The documentary jury would like to give special mention to a film which was a well executed telling of a socially engaging story that documented young citizens' passion for direct democracy.

CHECKERS

Golden pram award for the best Croatian film in the Checkers programme

Komba

Tin Žaniæ / 2011 / 15'

A refreshing film about the difficulties of communication and modern life. The cinematography, editing and sound design work perfectly with the theme of this film. Because of its open structure Komba is a film that remains in mind for a long time after it is over.