HONG KONG – “Snow in Midsummer” emerged victorious in the Chinese-language category of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, shining a light on the 1969 massacre of Malaysian Chinese during post-election unrest. Liang Ming was recognized as the best director for “Carefree Days,” with actress Lyu Xingchen winning the best actress award. Meanwhile, Jason King took home the best actor award for his performance in “A Journey in Spring.”
In the non-Chinese film category, “Sons” by Gustav Moeller received the Firebird award. Meryam Joobeur was honored with the best director award for “Who Do I Belong To,” while Vangelis Mourikis won the best actor award for his role in “Arcadia.” Minna Wuendrich was named best actress for her performance in “Ivo.” The film “Pepe,” directed by Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, garnered a special mention from the jury.
Moving on to the documentary competition, Austrian director Ruth Beckermann’s “Favoriten” unanimously secured the Firebird award. Hong Kong director Wong Siu-pong earned the jury prize with “Obedience.” Margherita Giusti won the Firebird award in the short film competition for her work on “The Meatseller,” while the jury prize went to “Shrooms” by Portuguese director Jorge Jacome.
The 12-day HKIFF48, featuring over 190 films from 62 countries and regions, will wrap up on Tuesday. The festival is set to return from April 10-21, 2025.
In another cinematic development, the Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine will kick off on April 24 with the screening of “YOLO.” With a box office haul of over $500 million, “YOLO” is the highest-grossing Chinese film of the year. It was directed by Jia Ling, who also starred in the movie, and is an adaptation of the Japanese film “100 Yen Love” that previously screened at Udine in 2015. The film has been acquired by Sony Pictures for international release.
On the industry front, something special and AR Asia Productions have been selected by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) for the LEAP Creative Lab project. This initiative aims to enhance the creativity of Taiwanese producers by providing them with immersive learning experiences and collaborative development opportunities. Over the course of a year, Something Special and AR Asia Productions will spearhead various activities in 2024, including a masterclass program in Taipei and a creative workshop to select standout companies for intensive mentoring and IP development.
Lastly, Indian filmmaker Priyadarshan has completed a five-part documentary series on the history of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, India. The series will be aired on state broadcaster Doordarshan. Priyadarshan expressed the challenges faced while tactfully narrating the historical narrative and handling sensitive subjects.
[Variety]