Department of Cultural Affairs

By Psyche Cho
Staff Reporter
Photo courtesy of Taipei Cultural Foundation

The Canadian dark comedy Familiar Grounds (En terrains connus) won the Grand Prize in the International New Talent Competition of the Taipei Film Festival 2011 (TFF 2011), along with a cash prize of NT$600,000 (US$20,800). The announcement of the winner was made June 30 at Taipei Zhongshan Hall.

The jury stressed that the work by Stéphane Lafleur is “a splendid dark movie, with themes and visuals which are equally inventive.” “We loved the way the humor accrues from small and precise details,” said Tony Rayns, Chair of Jury.

Local director Giddens Ko’s first feature film You Are the Apple of My Eye won the Audience’s Choice Award. Inviting the two leading actors up on stage to share the moment of glory with him, Ko, one of the best-selling authors in Taiwan, said that making this film has always been his dream.

The Special Jury Prize, which carried a cash award of NT$300,000 (US$10,400), was presented to Russian director Yury Bykov's Live! (Zhit!). The jury praised Bykov’s talent, as he not only wrote and directed the film but also composed the music for it.

“Made with limited resources, the film transcends all limitations to deliver a concise and very powerful vision of humanity at its extreme,” remarked the jury.

The Romanian New Wave film Outbound (Periferic) and José María de Orbe's Father (Aita) from Spain were rewarded with the Special Mentions Award.

“I hope filmmakers will enjoy their stay in Taipei and soon come back to make films here,” said Sylvia Chang, Chair of TFF 2011 and also a veteran actress, during her speech in the ceremony.

In addition to Rayns from Great Britain, the other four jury members included Taiwanese director Chung Mong-hong, Chinese director Xie Fei, Japanese director Zeze Takahisa and Taiwanese film producer Yeh Ju-feng.