MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina – Mexican film “Cinco dias sin Nora,” directed by Mariana Chenillo, was awarded the top honor at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, and also receiving awards were Spanish director Cesc Gay and his Palestinian colleague Elia Suleiman.

In contrast to other years, the austerity and absence of big stars were noteworthy elements at this 24th edition of the festival, the only A-category film event in Latin America and which will officially conclude on Sunday.

One of the works arousing great interest at Mar del Plata, located 400 kilometers (248 miles) south of Buenos Aires, was the screening of a documentary about the life of deceased Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.

“Pecados de mi padre,” directed by Argentina’s Nicolas Entel, presents a summary of the life of the Colombian drug trafficker and shows an historic meeting between his son – who lives in Argentina under the name Juan Sebastian Marroquin – with the children of two of the best-known victims of the Medellin cartel.

The “Astor de Oro,” the top prize at the international competition and named for Argentine musician Astor Piazzolla, went to Chenillo’s film, which tells the story of a woman who, after committing suicide, continues intervening in her family’s activities.

The Judges’ Special Award went to Cuban comedy “El cuerno de la abundancia,” directed by Juan Carlos Tabio, and featuring experienced actor Jorge Perrugorria.

The best acting prizes went to Allison Janney, from the United States, for her role in the film “Life During Wartime,” directed by Todd Solondz, and to Spaniard Gary Piquer, for his work in the Uruguayan film “Mal dia para pescar,” by Alvaro Brechener.

Another Spaniard to win an award this year was Cesc Gay – who also won an award at the 2007 edition of the competition – for the screenplay to the comedy “V.O.S.”

The award for best director this year went to Suleiman for his film “The Time That Remains,” which uses absurd humor to tell about the sufferings of his people after the surrender of the Arabs to the Israeli army in 1948.

The Palestinian film also received an award from the Argentine Cinematography Journalists Association.

The judging panel for Competencia Latinoamericana gave its best film award to “La hora de la siesta,” by Argentina’s Sofia Mora.