Awards honor film festival’s best
“OUT of Paradise,” a Swiss and Mongolian co-production was named best feature film yesterday during the Golden Goblet awards ceremony of the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival.
Directed by Batbayar Chogsom, the film centers on a nomadic couple who anxiously await the birth of their first child. The award jury praised the film as “simple, sincere and poetic.” Chogsom accepted the film’s award at the Shanghai Grand Theater.
The best director award went to brothers Rodrigo and Sebastian Barriuso for their work on the Cuban-Canadian drama “A Translator.”
Canadian actress Isabelle Blais was honored as best actress for her depiction of a powerful mother in the Canadian movie “Tadoussac.”
In a recorded video message, Blais said she was glad that the movie had reached Chinese audiences. She also expressed gratitude to the film’s director, Martin Laroche, for creating such a beautiful and moving story.
The best actor award went to 21-year-old American Tye Sheridan for his depiction of a high school drop-out in the drama “Friday’s Child.” The movie’s cinematographer, Jeff Bierman, took the best cinematography award.
Chinese film “Ala Changso,” about Tibetan people’s pilgrimage to Lhasa, earned the Jury Grand Prix. The film’s scriptwriters, Tashi Dawa and Sonthar Gyal, shared the best screenplay award.
“Carnivores,” a France and Belgium co-production won the prize for outstanding artistic achievement.
Best documentary went to Dutch production “The Long Season‚“while Japan’s “Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms” scored the award for best animation film.
A total of 23 films were nominated this year for the Golden Goblet awards in the feature film, documentary and animation categories.
The star-studded awards ceremony also attracted American actor and writer Jesse Eisenberg, known for his performances in “The Social Network,” and “Now You See Me.”
The festival will close today with a public screening of the award-winning movies.
“The festival has an increasing influence on Chinese cinema and industry,” said cinema lover Mark Zhang. “Me and many of my friends attended the screenings this year and we are impressed by the large number of movie enthusiasts in the city.”