The 16th Osaka Asian Film Festival, which began on March 5th, has finished its 10-day screening run today, March 14th.
On March 14th, the festival ended with the world premiere of “The Asian Angel”. Before it was screened, the awards results were announced. The results of each award are listed below, beginning with the Grand Prix for films in the Competition section.
OSAKA ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2021 Award Winners
Grand Prix (Best Picture Award)
“Ito”, Japan｜Director: YOKOHAMA Satoko
Director YOKOHAMA Satoko Comment:
“I was very pleased to be able to participate in the Osaka Asian Film Festival for the first time, but I was honestly surprised to hear that my film “Ito” was awarded the Grand Prix and the Audience Award. While I was in the audience during the first screening of “Ito”, I was a little nervous and wondered, “How will this movie be received by the audience?” However, that nervousness gradually changed to a small feeling of joy and the realization that the movie could give something to the jury and audience, and now that joy is gradually rushing to my chest. I want to convey this joy to the actors, staff, and people who made this film together with me as soon as possible. With the decisions of the judges and audience members as support, we will continue to strive to get more people to watch the movie “Ito.” We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people involved in the festival and those who visited the cinema as the corona epidemic continues. Thank you very much!”
Most Promising Talent Award
CHOI Jin-young, Korea｜“The Slug” Director
ABC TV Award
“Sister Sister”, Vietnam｜Director: Kathy UYEN
Yakushi Pearl Award
Lily LEE, Taiwan｜“Born to be Human”
JAPAN CUTS Award
“B/B” (B/B), Japan｜Director: NAKAHAMA Kosuke
JAPAN CUTS Award Special Mention
Among Four of Us, Japan | Director: NAKAMURA Mayu
Housen Short Film Award
“In-young's Camcorder”, Korea｜Director: OH Jeong-seon
Audience Award
“Ito”, Japan｜Director: YOKOHAMA Satoko
After the awards announcements, the closing film “The Asian Angel” was given its World Premiere.
Director ISHII Yuya gave a stage greeting before the World Premiere of the festival's closing film “The Asian Angel” and explained how he came to make it, revealing that he and Korean director PARK Jung-bom (“The Journals of Musan”) met at the Busan International Film Festival in 2014 and they got along well together leading to PARK then joining as a producer for “The Asian Angel.” The film was shot entirely on location in South Korea and sequences in the film show the Korean food culture of having fun while eating and drinking as well as the closeness between people. ISHII stated, “I made this film with the hope that we could come together and create free human relationships and a community despite our different languages and nationalities. We live in a world of inconvenience and suffocation, but I am proud to have made a film which suits the era we are currently living in. I hope you will enjoy it.”
Moon CHOI, who appeared in the film, made some comments in a video message. You can click the link HERE to see the video.
The 16th Osaka Asian Film Festival has concluded its 10-day theatrical screening run today. However, the festival's online presence, “Osaka Asian Film Festival Online,” will be open until March 20th. In addition to the seven films that were screened at past editions of the festival, there are the digitally remastered Taiwanese films “Gwan Gung Vs. Aliens” and “The Rice Dumpling Vendors” which will be streamable for a limited time for 48 hours starting from 21:00 today. More info about the online streamings HERE.
