South Korean actress Kim Yoon-jin cries as she holds her Best Actress award for the movie "Seven Days" at the 45th Daejong Film Festival awards at the Seoul COEX Convention Center on June 27, 2008. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

Movie thrillers, including the big winner "The Chaser," garnered the most prizes at South Korea's 45th annual Daejong Film Festival awards, the Chinese website Sina.com reported.

This year's awards ceremony was held at the Seoul COEX Convention Center on Friday. The blockbuster, "The Chaser," snatched five awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" and "Best Actor."

"The Chaser," a film about a serial murderer, was nominated for 11 different awards. It has drawn audiences of more than 5 million, and as of April, it was the most successful Korean film of 2008, according to the Korean Film Council.

"Seven Days," a nearly all female cast film about a kidnapped child, was second in the number of nominations with 10 categories. It won awards for "Best Actress" and "Best Film Editing."

"Shadows in the Palace," a mystery that takes place within the palace of the Joseon Dynasty, was nominated in eight categories and grabbed the "Best Lighting" award.

The thrillers eclipsed other top movies at the awards ceremony. Other popular films such as "Secret Sunshine," "The Happy Life" and "Happiness" were nominated in different award categories, but went home empty-handed.