Top Honors for Late Director’s Masterpiece
At the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema, the film “Snow Leopard” by the late Pema Tseden from China took home the highest honor, the Golden Cyclo award. This film, which had already received accolades at Tokyo and Hainan festivals, also won the INALCO jury prize, with actor Tseten Tashi getting a special mention from the jury. Pema Tseden, also known as Wanmacaidan, passed away in May last year at the age of 53, as reported by Variety.
Other Winners at the Festival
The grand jury prize was awarded to “Scream” by Kenzhebek Shaikakov from Kazakhstan, which also won the NETPAC award and the Mark Haaz award. Actors Orynbek Shaimaganbetov and Arnur Akram from “Scream” received a special mention from the jury. “The Spark” by Rajesh Jala from India shared the Mark Haaz award and was noted by the film critics.
ALSO READ: Pema Tseden’s Final Film “Snow Leopard” Crowned at Tokyo Film Festival Grand Prix
Patiparn Boontarig’s “Solids by The Seashore” from Thailand won the jury prize and the INALCO favorite award. The audience chose “Sunday” by Shokir Kholikov from Uzbekistan as their favorite fiction film and “Age of Reason” by Shuvangi Khadka from Nepal as the top documentary.
Special Awards and Jury
“Paradise” by Prasanna Vithanage from Sri Lanka, a winner at Busan, was given the high school award, and “Can I Hug You?” by Elahe Esmaili from Iran received the young award. The festival, celebrating its 30th edition from February 6-13, was led by an international jury headed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf from Iran, with members including filmmaker Zero Chou from Taiwan and actors Fatemeh Motamed-Arya from Iran and Shogen from Japan.
Honorary Golden Cyclos were given to Chou and Taiwanese sound engineer Tu Du-chih, highlighting the festival’s focus on Taiwanese cinema and Malayalam-language films from Kerala, India.
This year’s Vesoul Asian Film Festival not only celebrated the rich tapestry of Asian cinema but also paid tribute to the late Pema Tseden, whose work continues to inspire audiences around the world.
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