The film, which stars Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt, picked up the world cinema directing award for a drama and the world cinema screenwriting award.

Directed by Downfall's Oliver Hirschbiegel and written by UK writer Guy Hibbert, Five Minutes of Heaven tells the true story of Belfast UVF man Alistair Little, who kills a young catholic in the '70s, and, years later – after a long prison sentence – finds himself confronted by the victim's younger brother, who wants revenge – or at least atonement – for the crime against his family.

The film, by Dublin production company Element films, will be released here in March.

And it's been a great week for Irish cinema, as the recently-announced Oscar nominations honoured both Roddy Doyle, for his live action short film New Boy, and Martin McDonagh, who is up for Best Original Screenplay for In Bruges.