Copenhagen  - The Italian film Gomorrah, about the criminal underworld in Naples, cleaned up Saturday night at the European Film Awards in the Danish capital, receiving five of the 15 top awards.

In addition to receiving the prize as the top European film of 2008, director Matteo Garrone was named best director and Toni Servillo named the best actor.

Servillo's award also included his work in Il Divo (The Star.)

Gomorrah also received the prize for best script, and Garrone's cameraman Marco Onorato was named for the best photography.

The film, based on the book by Roberto Saviano, had been nominated for ten of the 15 prizes. Saviano was unable to attend the ceremony because he is pursued by constant threats of murder for his book.

The 2007 best film award went to Rumanian director Cristian Mungiu's "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days." In 2006, it went to German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's The Lives of Others.

British actress Judi Dench was honoured for her life's work. (dpa)