Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 Awards Winners
Grand Prix (Best Picture Award)
City of Wind
[Ser ser salhi]
Jury Comment
Working within the confines of the coming of age genre, the Grand Prize winning film illuminates a world we had not seen before and tackles issues of spirituality and intergenerational conflict with a deft and confident hand. The film depicts the growth of the central character with sensitivity and features a revelatory performance at the center.
Winner’s Comment
Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir
Director
My first, but not last, time in Japan! Thank you Osaka AFF for your incredible hospitality and warmth. Thank you for including City of Wind in your wonderful festival and honoring us with the Grand Prix! This award makes me feel humbled and proud at the same time! I will work harder and dream bigger. And I hope I will be back in Japan with my next film and continue to share the beauty and complexity of Mongolia to the Japanese audience.
Most Promising Talent Award
LIEN Chien Hung [練建宏]
Direcrtor of Salli
Jury Comment
Director LIEN Chien Hung demonstrates amazing craft that reminded us of the great character driven comedies of the past, albeit with twists and turns we did not see coming. Populating his sterling script with memorable places and faces, and demonstrating a knack for genuine emotion paired with laugh out loud comedy, Directo LIEN made us excited to see what he does next.
Winner’s Comment
I’d like to thank everyone at the festival. I’m truly happy that the jury appreciated my film Salli.
ABC TV Award
Salli
[莎莉]
Jury Comment
This feel-good film makes you feel relaxed and warm, depicting the protagonist’s struggle to move to Paris and the warm communication between family and friends. Above all, the chickens are adorable!
Winner’s Comment
LIEN Chien Hung [練建宏]
Director
Thank you very much. It was a true honor that Salli was in the OAFF 2024 lineup. The film will be released in April in Taiwan. I hope you can join us to watch the film again in Taiwan.
Yakushi Pearl Award
CHI Yun [池韵]
Unborn Soul Cast Member
Jury Comment
CHI Yun made the film Unborn Soul possible. Her delicate and profound performance moves the viewers’ souls from beginning to end.
Winner’s Comment
I hope this film will be an opportunity to change your views of people with impairments and to promote integration in our society. I’d be happy if we could convey our love for them through the film.
JAPAN CUTS Award
Jury Comment
We are pleased to present the JAPAN CUTS Award to YUASA Noriko’s Performing KAORU’s Funeral, a brilliantly crafted domestic drama that captures the palpable explosion of emotions at a familial wake. With a perfect ensemble of off-kilter performances, along with a percussive soundtrack and propulsive editing, YUASA delivers a dark comedy that etches an entertaining yet poignant portrait of familial dysfunction.
Winner’s Comment
YUASA Noriko
Director
I wholeheartedly appreciate that the jury chose my film, as I’m aware it is not an easy film. It took me six years to complete this Japan-Spain-Singapore co-production, with kind support from countless people over several years, and also with the support of the cast members, who patiently waited during the pandemic. Thank you very much.
Special Mention
Blue Imagine
ブルーイマジン
Jury Comment
A powerful and sincere debut from MATSUBAYASHI Urara, Blue Imagine is a testament of our times, urgent in its message and healing in its approach; a bold confrontation with the proliferation of sexual harassment and abuse in the culture that also points to the resilient and mending properties of solidarity.
Winner’s Comment
MATSUBAYASHI Urara
Director
Thank you for the JAPAN CUTS Award Special Mention. A wonderful surprise.
A film cannot be created by one person. I’d like to express my gratitude to all the crew and cast members and everyone at the Osaka Asian Film Festival.
Blue Imagine is a place where people in a weaker position can come hand in hand, share their pain, listen to each other on the same level, and approve of each other.
There is a place where you can be assured that you have done nothing wrong. That, I hope, will be the power to change society. May the circle of Blue Imagine expand.
Housen Short Film Award
Sojourn to Shangri-la
[是日訪古]
Jury Comment
Compelling and enchanting narrative that captivates with strong imagery, igniting a series of magical events, especially when the film switches to its impressively powerful second half, delivering cinematic impact. Sojourn to Shangri-la is a successful experiment in cinema from the director, bringing amazement to whoever experiences it.
Winner’s Comment
LIN Yihan [林詣涵]
Director
I wanted to thank every encounter and company that happened during this film and brought by this film; thank everyone in our crew; and thank the hard work and recognition from Osaka Asian Film Festival. It was the first time for my film to be screened in Japan and it was such a pity that I was not able to be at the scene and talk to the audience in person. But I believe it’s the power of cinema to bring our souls together and to communicate without boundaries or words. I would cherish this honor and hope to bring more works to you in the future. Big hug!
Special Mention
On a Boat
オン・ア・ボート
Jury Comment
The film stays true to its theme of marriage and relationships while the director shows promise, with strong directorial craft and well calculated technique, giving an impressive result.
Winner’s Comment
Heso
Director
As I’m a CM director, this was my first experience to be involved in the film industry. Everyone at the Osaka Asian Film Festival and the fellow filmmakers were all really nice. Although being selected is already a great honor, I’m very happy to receive this award for my cast and crew, who believed in me. Thank you very much.
Special Mention
Jury Comment
With strong filmmaking, the director tells the important story of being a child, being an adult and being a woman. The film is a rare look into the director’s community and is a realistic observation of women oppressed by patriarchal culture.
Winner’s Comment
Fatema ABDOOLCARIM
Director
Thank you so much to the Osaka Asian Film Festival for inviting Sweet Lime to the festival. It has been such a warm and incredible experience here. Thank you to the jurors as well for recognizing this little film. After making many documentaries, this is my first fiction film and I have learned so much from my experience and from everybody involved, especially from my producer, Sophia SHEK, who is also here. Thank you very much.
Audience Award
Amalock
あまろっく
Winner’s Comment
NAKAMURA Kazuhiro
Director
I was thrilled to be able to screen Amalock at the Osaka Asian Film Festival on March 5, after about six years since its first development. Blessed with excellent staff and cast members, we were able to win the Audience Award. Thank you very much.