Almodovar quits Academy

Spain's best-known film director Pedro Almodovar has left the country's Academy of Cinematic Arts and Sciences in protest at a new voting system for the Academy's annual awards.

Almodovar and his brother Agustin who produces most of his films, resigned in December but have only now made the decision public.

The pair said they were leaving because they disagreed with the new voting system, under which artists can only be nominated for awards by members of their own profession.

They also complained there was a lack of information about the number of participants in the different rounds of voting.