Fatih Akin's The Edge Of Heaven (Auf Der Anderen Seite) picked up four Golden Lolas, including for Best Film, at the German Film Awards at the weekend in Berlin.

Produced by Akin's own company Corazon International, the film also received the Lolas for Best Direction, Best Screenplay and Best Editing (Andrew Bird) to add to a impressive list of prizes and distinctions since its premiere at last year's Cannes Film Festival where it won the Screenplay Award and Ecumenical Jury's Prize.

Over the past year, the film has been presented with the European Parliament's LUX Award, the European Screenwriter Award at the European Film Awards, and five prizes at the Antalya Film Festival, among others.

It was evidently Akin's week as he had already been to the city of Aachen on Thursday evening to accept the Charles Medal along with Abdellatif Keliche for an outstanding contribution to European integration in the field of media.

The film only missed out on winning for the nomination of Hanna Schygulla for Best Supporting Actress - this distinction went to Christine Schorn for her performance in According To Plan.

The other big favourite, Doris Doerrie's Cherry Blossoms - Hanami, managed to translate its six nominations into three Lolas: Best Lead Actor for veteran actor Elmar Wepper, Best Costume Design for Sabine Greunig and a Silver Lola for Best Film.

The Bronze Lola for Best Film went to Dennis Gansel's school drama The Wave, which has now taken more than $18.4m (Euros 11.8m) at the German box officealong with a Golden Lola for Best Supporting Actor to Frederick Lau.

Armin Voelcker's Leroy took home the Golden Lola for Best Children's and Youth Film and for Best Film Score (Ali N. Askin).

Although Christian Petzold's Yella didn't make it into the final three of the Best Film Lola-winners, there was some consolation in Nina Hoss repeating her Berlinale Silver Bear triumph of last year by now taking the Golden Lola for Best Lead Actress for her mesmerising performance.

Meanwhile, Bettina Bluemner's documentary Pool Of Princesses beat off competition from Pepe Danquart's To The Limit to receive the distinction for Best Documentary, and the Golden Lolas for Best Cinematography, Production Design and Sound went to Benedict Neuenfels (Love Life), Erwin Prib (Absurdistan) and the team for Marco Kreuzpaintner's Trade, respectively.

In addition, veteran filmmaker Alexander Kluge received a standing ovation from the 1,500-strong audience when he received the Academy's Honorary Award from the hands of fellow director Tom Tykwer in recognition of his life's work.

This year marked the fourth time that the 1,000-plus membership of the German Film Academy voted for the winners of the German Film Awards with prize-money totalling over $4.3m (Euros 2.8m) provided by the State Minister for Culture and Media Bernd Neumann.

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