The London East Asia Film Festival (Festival Director Hyejung Jeon) closed its 5th edition with acclaimed director Yonfan’s first film in a decade, an exquisite hand-painted portrait of late 1960s Hong Kong, NO.7 CHERRY LANE.
As a part of the Closing Gala, LEAFF held the Award Ceremony for the Competition strand. This year, eight films were considered in competition including BEASTS CLAWING AT STRAWS and I WEIRDO as well as many other submissions.
LEAFF’s Competition seeks out East Asia’s most talented emerging directors. The stellar jury included: Sabrina Baracetti of Udine Far East Film Festival, Paolo Bertolin of Venice International Film Festival and Director’s Fortnight at Cannes, Kiki Fung of Hong Kong International Film Festival and Ellen Y. D. Kim of Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
LEAFF announced the Taiwanese iPhone-shot romance, I WEIRDO (Dir. Ming-Yi Liao) as the best film in Competition this year. Dir. Ming-Yi Liao will receive the prestigious award of a fish that is the symbol of the London East Asia Film Festival, made by the French historical crystal maker, Lalique.
The jury unanimously awarded I WEIRDO as the best film in LEAFF’s Competition 2020. They said the film is “a feel good comedy with a dark touch and an idiosyncratic representation of people living in exceptional conditions. With stylistic production design, charming performances and confident direction, this film endears with its surprising moments and emotional depth, and responds to the human condition of our time and beyond our time when it ponders upon the big question of how we cope with intimacy and change.”
