Medem's film has sparked huge debate

They were angry that Basque Ball, The Skin Against The Stone by Julio Medem, was nominated for best documentary.

They said the film was too sympathetic to the Basque separatist group ETA, who have killed more than 850 people.

Medem had earlier written an open letter to a paper saying he was shocked at opposition to the film.

The protesters were led by the Association of Victims of Terrorism, who led banners criticising the film-making.

Iciar Bollain won the best director award

More than 100 of the director's supporters, however, staged a rival protest. Medem is best known for his 2002 film Sex and Lucia.

The film has interviews with around 70 people, including widows of a politician and policeman killed by ETA, a Basque leader who lost his leg in a bomb but calls for talks, and the wife of a jailed ETA member.

Te Doy Mis Ojos (I Give You My Eyes), by the director Iciar Bollain, won all the major prizes at the festival, including best film and best director.

The film is about a woman's attempt to escape her violent, abusive husband. The female director dedicated the film to all the "survivors" ofdomestic abuse.