A documentary produced by the Government Information Office about Green Island won the Silver Chris prize -- the festival's top honor -- according to a press release issued by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago.

The film, shot by Wang Yuan-tung, shows the beauty and the interesting culture of Green Island, which lies about 33 km east of the eastern city of Taitung.

It was the film's second honor and followed the Silver Hugo prize it was awarded at the Chicago International Film Festival Oct. 19.

Four other films -- The Black Dragon, Kungfu Secrets, Typhoon Hunters, and River Quest -- all of which are in the Taiwan to the World series of documentaries filmed by the National Geographic Channel and commissioned by the Government Information Office, garnered honorable mention awards.

Still another Taiwan-made documentary, Women of the Southern Wind, produced by Chen Mei-chun, won the Chris Statuette prize.

Lee Wen-chi, chief of the press division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago who attended the closing ceremony on behalf of Taiwan, had to take the stage many times to receive the honors, according to the press release.

The Columbus International Film and Video Festival is an annual festival designed to encourage and promote the use of film and video in all forms of education and communication.

It is the oldest film festival in North America, having existed since 1953.

(By Maubo Chang)