1. An intra-prediction module for use in a video encoder that encodes a video signal including picture data, the intra-prediction module comprising: a candidate screening preprocessor configured to process blocks of the picture data based on intra-prediction candidate data, the blocks of the picture data corresponding to a plurality of pixels of the blocks, wherein the intra-prediction candidate data indicates a first subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction partitions and a second subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction modes generated from edge strength data and edge angle range data corresponding the plurality of pixels the blocks, wherein the processing of the blocks of the picture data includes screening the intra-prediction candidate data to generate screened intra-prediction candidate data that indicates a third subset selected from the plurality of intra-prediction partitions and a fourth subset selected from the plurality of intra-prediction modes; and a final intra-prediction processor, coupled to the candidate screening preprocessor, that determines final intra-prediction data, based on rate-distortion based costs of the screened intra-prediction candidate data.