Persian jewel

'Film Not in the English Langauage' remains one of the most prestigious annual awards either side of the Atlantic.

So the presentation to Iran's A Separation of the BBC's World Cinema Award 2011 should be a useful pointer to the upcoming Oscars and BAFTAs early next year. Pictured below are awards host Jonathan Ross, A Separation executive producer Negar Eskandafar, Isabelle Huppert, John Hurt and Sir David Hare.

Asghar Farhadi's domestic drama, which won no fewer than five awards, including The Golden Bear, at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year, wasn't the only recipient at BBC's annual celebration of World Cinema.

To the great French actress, Isabelle Huppert, whose films include The Lacemaker, The Piano Teacher and Heaven's Gate, went the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to her by sometime co-star John Hurt.