"All is Well," the story of two sisters struggling in Lisbon after fleeing civil war in Angola, took the top prize for the festival's best narrative film, while "Drought," about a northeastern Mexico cattle-ranching community, was honored as best documentary.

The award for best performance in the narrative film competition went to Wendell Pierce, Emory Cohen, E.J. Bonilla and Aja Naomi King for their performances in Joshua Sanchez's "Four."

Among audience awards, best narrative feature went to "Beasts of the Southern Wild," while "Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and The Farm Midwives," took the prize for documentary feature. "Searching for Sugar Man" won the audience prize for best international feature.

"In an extremely competitive year, our juries had hard choices to make," the festival's artistic director David Ansen said in a statement.

"The winning films are wonderful examples of what the Festival celebrates: bold, fresh, personal visions that expand the horizons of independent cinema."

Awards were also presented in several categories for short films.

The 18th Los Angeles Film Festival, which showcases new American and international cinema, kicked off on Thursday. It is organized by Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that also produces the prestigious Spirit Awards, traditionally held the day before the annual Academy Awards.

(Writing by Chris Michaud; Editing by Eric Walsh)

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