The Academy has accepted Leeds as a qualifying festival and will consider the winners of its 2012 prizes.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has accepted Leeds as a qualifying festival and will consider the winners of the festivals 2012 World Animation and Louis Le Prince International Short Film awards for its Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film categories in 2013.

The news comes as the 25th edition of the festival wrapped, attracting a record audience of 35,000.

The Golden Owl award went to Koen Mortiers 22nd May, while the Silver Méliès award was claimed by The Divide by Xavier Gens.

In the Augustin Awards for short films, Nicholas Schmerkins The Gloaming won the World Animation award Nash Edgertos Bear picked up the Louis le Prince International Short Film prize, Afarin Eghbals Grandmothers triumphed in the British Shorts section and (We are Poets) I Come From… by Alex Ramseyer-Bache and Daniel Lucchesi won the Yorkshire Short Film award.

The Official Selection Audience Award went to Michael Hazanaviciuss The Artist, whilst Alejandro Brugues Juan of the Dead won the Fanomenon Audience Award, and Jeanie Finlays documentary Sound It Out walked away with the Cinema Versa Audience Award.