Four Taiwanese actors were named winners of the Yakushi Pearl Award at the Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) on Sunday.
The honor was bestowed upon the stars of the drama Family Matters (我家的事): Alexia Kao (高伊玲), Lan Wei-hua (藍葦華), Tseng Jing-hua (曾敬驊), and Queena Huang (黃珮琪).
The award, named after the OAFF’s founder, is given to the "most brilliant performer among all participating films’ cast members," according to the OAFF’s website.
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Cultural Center in Japan via CNA
The jury said the foursome conveyed "complex emotions" of each family member in the film with a "superb" performance, which made the first feature film by director Pan Ke-yin (潘客印) a "great masterpiece."
In a statement released yesterday Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture noted that it is the first time in the OAFF’s history that four actors have shared the award.
The statement quoted Taiwan’s Minister of Culture Li Yuan (李遠) as saying that winning the award is a testament to the talents of Taiwanese filmmakers and reiterated the Taiwanese government’s commitment to supporting the cultural and creative sectors to boost the global profile of original Taiwanese content.
In his statement, Taiwan’s Representative to Japan Lee I- yang (李逸洋) said the win showcased the free spirit and infinite creativity of Taiwanese filmmakers. He expressed hope that more Taiwanese productions will gain traction in the international community.
Seven Taiwanese productions made their Japanese premieres during this year’s OAFF from March 14-23, including Yen and Ai-Lee (小雁與吳愛麗), Blind Love (失明), Breezy Day (晚風), The Chronicles of Libidoists (破浪男女), Cupcakes, Lonely Cats (寂寞貓 蛋糕), Dead Talents Society (鬼才之道), and Family Matters.
Now in its 20th edition, the OAFF aims to foster new filmmakers and promote an exchange of talent, to invigorate the Osaka economy, and increase the city’s appeal, by inviting featured filmmakers from all over Asia, according to the festival’s website.
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