Chinese director Wang Chao has won the Golden Balloon Award, or Best Director Award, at the 25th Three Continents Film Festival in France's Nantes city.

He was up against films from Asia, Africa and Latin America, but won the top award for his movie Day and Night. The film also won the Nantes City Award and the Young Jury Award.

Day and Night is about a miner who lives on China's Yangze River, and tries to atone his guilt about committing crimes.

The event's Silver Balloon Award went to Argentinean film Bombon. El Perro, by director Carlos Sorin, while the Public Award was pocketed by Angolan film Hero.

Hong Kong director Chen Guo and China's renowned filmmakers Zhang Yuan and Jia Zhangke have been previous winners of the Best Director Award.

(CRI December 2, 2004)