Iranian film wins BBC world cinema award

A movie about the break-up of an Iranian marriage has been named the winner of this year's BBC Four World Cinema Awards, BBC News reported.

Director Asghar Farhadi of A Separation was unable to attend the ceremony, which took place in London.

Collecting the prize, executive producer Negar Eskandarfar said he was pleased the movie had been "welcomed internationally".

French actress Isabelle Huppert won the world cinema achievement award.

The actress, who is best known for her role in 2001 film, The Piano Teacher, said she was "deeply touched" to collect the prize.

A Separation was chosen from a shortlist of five by a panel of judges comprising of film director David Hare, documentary filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, Oscar-winning documentary producer John Battsek and Booker Prize winning author Kazuo Ishiguro.

The film, which stars Peyman Moaadi and Leila Hatami, became the first Iranian film to win the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year.

Last year Oscar-nominated drama The White Ribbon was named the winner of the BBC Four World Cinema award.