Elvis Lu A-liang’s documentary A Holy Family won the grand prize and two other awards at this year’s Taipei Film Award, held during the Taipei International Film Festival (June 23-July 9).
The film, through which Lu explores psychological tensions and social issues impacting his own family, also won awards for best documentary and best editing.
The Taipei Film Award includes nominees in four categories – narrative feature, documentary, short film and animation – and also hands out the grand prize, with a cash award of $33,377 (NTD1m), for the best film overall.
Among other category winners, Fiona Ruan Fengyi’s American Girl took the best narrative feature award and also scooped the best new talent award for Caitlin Fang’s performance. Best short film went to Good Day and best animation to Demigod: The Legend Begins.
Kai Ko was presented with best actor for his role in Giddens Ko’s Till We Meet Again and Chen Shiang-chyi took best actress for Increasing Echo. Best supporting actor went to Kao Ying-hsuan for Incantation and best supporting actress to Wang Yu-xuan for Goddamned Asura. The Outstanding Contribution Award was presented to director Kevin Chu.
In the International New Talent Competition, which handed out prizes the previous evening (July 8), the grand prize, with a cash award of $20,000 (NTD600,000) went to Softie, from France’s Samuel Theis, which also won the Taiwan Film Critics Society Award.
The Special Jury Prize went to Beautiful Beings, directed by Iceland’s Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson. Irish filmmaker Colm Bairéad’s The Quiet Girl won the Audience Choice Award.