Moscow fest makes 'Simple' choice

Karimi wins Gold St. George award By TOM BIRCHENOUGH , NICK HOLDSWORTH Russia's Moscow Film Festival closed Saturday with the top Gold St. George award going to Iranian helmer Reza Mir Karimi for his femme-centered "As Simple as That." The jury, headed by Liv Ullmann, gave its special prize to French Flaubert adaptation "The Simple Heart" by Marion Laine. Director honor went to Bulgaria's Javor Gardev for his black and white arthouse pic, "Zift." Best actor was U.S. thesp Richard Jenkins for his lead in Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor," the only American film in competition. Actress honor went to Margherita Buy in Italian-Swiss pic "Days and Clouds" from Silvio Soldini. Top award in the Perspectives sidebar competition was awarded to Mexico's Rene U. Villareal for "Cumbia Connection." Japanese helmer Takeshi Kitano received a... [read full story]