For the first time in its history, four films from the United States, Russia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) won awards at China's Golden Rooster and Full Blossom Film Festival on Saturday. 

Twenty Chinese audiences, including film critics, university students and local movie fans, voted for their favorite films, directors, actors and actresses after watching 20 films from 16 countries in the three-day Foreign Films Show at the 14th Golden Rooster and Full Blossom Film Festival. The festival was held in Sanya, a famous beach resort in south China's Hainan Province.

Eight awards -- two of each in the four categories of most popular films, most popular directors, most popular leading actors and most popular leading actresses -- went to the four winners. The Russian movie Count Down turned out to be the biggest winner by grabbing awards in all four categories. The American movie The Aryan Couple was selected as the other most popular film, while the other two awards for the most popular leading actor and actress went to the ROK movie Marathon and the Russian movie State Counselor, respectively.

Representing The Aryan Couple, Steven Roeder said he was glad that the movie got recognition from the Chinese audience. It was a good start for its entry into China's film market.

Apart from the eight international film awards, the Golden Rooster and Full Blossom Film Festival will also give out 15 Golden Rooster Awards to homemade films before its closing on Saturday evening.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2005)