PARIS Chinese director Ying Ning has won the top prize at the 24th Cinema du Reel, an international documentary film festival, for his film ***"Xiwang Zhi Lu"*** (***The Railway of Hope***), organisers announced.

More than 100 films were screened at the festival, held at Paris's Pompidou center, including 32 entries from 22 countries in the official international competition. Twenty films competed in the French competition.

The Chinese film-maker took home the top award of 8,000 euros ($7,060) late Saturday.

The 2,500-euro prize for the best short documentary was awarded to Lithuania's Kornelijus Matuzevicius and Diana Matuzeviciene for their film ***"Sicionykste"*** (***A Woman from Here***).

Lei Feng of China won the prize for best young film-maker for ***"Xue Luo Yili"*** (***Snow on the Yili***), also worth 2,500 euros.