Picture shows L-R: Werner Herzog, Anamaria Marinca, Cristian Mungiu, Jonathan Ross & John Hurt

This year's winner is 4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days. Congratulations to director Cristian Mungiu, who collected the award along with the film's lead actor, Anamaria Marinca.
More on 4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days

In addition to the award for best film of the last year, there was a new award in 2009: the inaugural BBC Four World Cinema Achievement Award was presented to the great German director, Werner Herzog.
More on the Achievement Award

The winner was chosen by a select jury headed up by John Hurt (actor, Alien, Elephant Man) and comprising Adrian Lester (actor, Hustle, Primary Colors), Asif Kapadia (director, The Warrior, Far North) and Sandra Hebron (director, BFI London Film Festival) and presented with their award on the programme.

Gomorrah

Director: Matteo Garrone

Five dark fictional stories are woven together, bringing to life the struggles of the residents from the provinces of Naples and Caserta. Living within the oppressive parameters of the Camorra (Mafia), normality is a luxury only for the few who escape their ruthless regime.

Official Website - www.gomorrahmovie.co.uk
(Warning: scenes of graphic violence)

Persepolis

Director: Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi

This film tells the story of Marjane, a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic revolution in 1979. Bright and determined, she has a defiant attitude at odds with the new republic ruled by the strict values of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Official Website - www.sonypictures.com/classics/persepolis

The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

Director: Julian Schnabel

Based on a true story: Jean-Dominique Bauby wakes from a stroke to discover he is cocooned in a paralysed body, with mobility restricted to just the blinking of his left eye. Although trapped in his body, his imagination continues to soar.

Official Website - www.thedivingbellmovie.co.uk

The Orphanage

Director: Juan Antonio Bayona

Laura returns to the orphanage she grew up in, accompanied by her husband and seven-year-old son Simon, with the dream of re-opening it. But Simon's behaviour becomes increasingly sinister in this new home, convincing Laura the house holds terrible secrets from the past.

Official Website - www.newline.com/properties/orphanagethe.html

4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days

Director: Cristian Mungiu

Otilia and Găbiţă are friends who work together at a university in a small town in Romania under communist rule. When Găbiţă becomes pregnant, Otilia accompanies her when she goes for an illegal abortion. The film depicts the girls' gritty situation as they make tough decisions and deal with the consequences.

Official Website - www.4months3weeksand2days.com
(Romanian Language Site)

WORLD CINEMA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: WERNER HERZOG

Showcasing Werner Herzog's talents, BBC Four broadcasts a season of four of his best films: Aguirre Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo, The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser and Nosferatu The Vampyre.

This season also includes Werner Herzog On The Culture Show, featuring an interview he originally did with Mark Kermode that first aired on BBC Two's The Culture Show.