Takeshi Kitano (right) starred in, wrote and directed Zatoichi

In Toronto, the People's Choice prize went to Zatoichi - about a blind Japanese master swordsman - made by and starring "Beat" Takeshi Kitano.

And at the festival of US cinema in Deauville, France, the jury's special prize was won by What Alice Found.

That event's jury was chaired by Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski.

The resort of Deauville, Normandy, has hosted a celebration of American cinema for 29 years, while Toronto is regarded as one of the year's most prestigious gatherings - alongside Cannes, Venice and Berlin.

Director A Dean Bell (right) was the biggest winner at Deauville

The main Toronto prize is decided by audiences, from the 330 films shown during the festival's 10-day duration.

Zatoichi is a new film based on a character made famous in a Japanese TV series.

The film was written and directed by Kitano. He played the humble, ageing masseur, who is one of the best sword fighters in the country and gets drawn into battles with gangs and samurai.

Oscars contenders

Kitano also won the prize for best director at the recent Venice Film Festival for the film.

Recent winners of the Toronto prize include Amelie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and American Beauty - and it is seen by some as a pointer towards possible Oscars success.

The Deauville winner, What Alice Found, was written and directed by relative newcomer A Dean Bell.