Swiss-Mongolian co-production takes out best film at Golden Goblets
Mongolian director Batbayar Chogsom hugs actresses Enerel Tumen (left) and Erdenetsetseg Tsend-Ayush after their work “Out of Paradise” won the Golden Goblet award for the best feature film at the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival yesterday.
“Out of Paradise,” a co-production between Switzerland and Mongolia, received the best feature film award on Sunday at the Golden Goblet awards ceremony of the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival.
Directed by Batbayar Chogsom, the film centers around a nomadic couple anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. The jury panel praised the film as “simple, sincere and poetic.”
Director Chogsom said that he couldn’t find the words to describe his feelings while accepting the award at the Shanghai Grand Theater.
The best director award went to Rodrigo Barriuso and his brother Sebastian Barriuso for their directing work in the Cuba-Canada drama “A Translator.” The film, based on a true event from 1989, brings to light a little-known piece of Cuban history.
Canadian actress Isabelle Blais was honored best actress for her depiction of a powerful mother in the Canadian film “Tadoussac.”
Through a video clip, Blais, who was still at work, said that she is so glad that the film was able to travel so far and connect with Chinese audiences. She is grateful to the film’s director Martin Laroche who created a beautiful and moving story.
The best actor award went to 21-year-old American actor Tye Sheridan for his impressive depiction of a teenager who quits school in the American drama “Friday’s Child.” The movie’s cinematographer, Jeff Bierman, also snatched the best cinematography award.
Chinese film “Ala Changso,” a touching story about Tibetan people’s pilgrimage to Lhasa, earned the Jury Grand Prix. The film’s scriptwriters, Tashi Dawa and Sonthar Gyal, also shared the best screenplay award.
“Carnivores,” a co-production of France and Belgium, won the award for outstanding artistic achievement.
Best documentary went to Dutch production “The Long Season,” while Japanese animated film “Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms” scooped the award for best animated 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 famous American actor and writer Jesse Eisenberg, known for his acting in “The Social Network” and “Now You See Me.”
Jesse Eisenberg poses for photo at the Golden Goblet awards ceremony on Sunday.
On his first visit to Shanghai, Eisenberg said that Shanghai is an amazing, international and multi-cultural city.
“Being an actor, we have to work very hard,” he told the Chinese audience when presenting an award at the ceremony.
The film festival will close on June 25 with public screenings of the winning movies.
“The fest has an increasing influence on Chinese cinema and the Chinese film industry,” said movie buff Mark Zhang. “Many of my friends attended screenings this year and we are impressed by the big number of movie enthusiasts in the city.”
