Panama City, Aug 8 (IANS/EFE): The short film "No me Ama", directed by Argentina's Martin Piroyanski, won the Best Short Foreign Film award at the 5th Hayah Festival held in Panama City, a spokesperson for the competition said Sunday.

The director of the festival, Mariel Garcia Spooner, said in a communique that Piroyanski was selected the winner from among 15 short foreign films from Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Spain and Mexico, that competed this week in the Panamanian capital.

The award for Hayah Best Short Film was bestowed upon Panamanian director Enrique Medrano for his work "Memoria de la lluvia", as well as the Honorable Mention award for best photography.

Second place in the Hayah Best Short Film category went to "7 dias de agonia", by Panama's Felix Puga, who also received Honorable Mention for Best Performance and Best Direction.

The work "Inevitable", by Panama's Andrea Cogollos received third place in the Hayah Best Short Film category.

The Judging Panel Special Mention award went to "Mi amiga Ana", by Panamanian Maricarmen Castillo, while the Best Short Hip Mention was given to the work "No mataras", by Panamanian Edisson Sanabria.

The Hayah 5th Short Film Festival was participated in by Peruvian documentary maker Walther Vera, who offered a workshop on documentary filmmaking and alternative film.

The Hayah Festival is held annually to serve as a way for Panamanian filmmakers to be able to present their works, at the same time as it helps to open space for foreign filmmakers, according to the firm Hayah Productions.