The Edinburgh International Film Festival Artistic Director Hannah McGill today announced the introduction of two new significant international awards; Best New International Feature Award and Best International Short Film at this year’s Festival, 17 – 28 June 2009.

The Film Festival, now in its second year in June, has been long acclaimed for its discovery and recognition of outstanding British Film, awarding The Michael Powell Award to cinematic gems such as Control, Tsotsi and last years winner, Somers Town directed by Shane Meadows. These additional awards will broaden the appeal of the EIFF to international filmmakers and in turn offer audiences a greater opportunity to experience the best of global / world cinema.

The Best New International Feature Award will carry a cash prize of £5,000 and will be open to features, originating outside of the UK, in all sections of the programme receiving their world or international premiere at the Festival.

The films will be judged by a three person jury, separate to the jury presiding over The Michael Powell Award.

Edinburgh plays host to a number of short film awards, acknowledging filmmaking in a number of genres, including documentary and animation. The UK Film Council Award for Best British Short Film honours the finest on home soil however, the introduction of the Best International Short Film Award is a welcome addition and completes an impressive array of awards open to this important form of filmmaking.

All live-action shorts, no longer than 50 minutes, in the curated programme will be eligible for the cash prize of £1,000.

“Our raft of awards now represent the full breadth of our programme, and offer an additional boost in both publicity and prize money to filmmakers from all over the world. Prizes aren't everything, of course, but we have seen our previous award-winners go from strength to strength after their EIFF premieres, and these new awards are intended to underline the festival's most important work: supporting burgeoning careers, recognising excellence and innovation, and bringing exciting new work to worldwide attention” commented Hannah McGill, Artistic Director Edinburgh International Film Festival.