Today at the closing of the 9th edition of the CinemAsia Film Festival, the Tiger Beer Jury award 2016 has been presented to a Taiwanese film ZINNIA FLOWER by director Tom Shu-Yu Lin. The jury declared “A fundamental human tale on how we continue living in the face of pain and loss.”
CinemAsia Tiger Beer Jury Award is given to a film in the Competition Program which distinguishes itself by having a clear vision and strong voice of the director. The jury, consisting of Singapore director Royston Tan, Dutch filmcritic Dana Linssen and acquisition and distribution consultant Aranka Matits watched eight films from seven countries. Strong stories about women and minorities, generational conflicts and memories, tales of how development impact the individual and the society we live in, and of family, friendship and ultimately, of our humanity.
The jury report: “The winner is a film that brings these questions back to a fundamental human tale. How do we deal with matters of life and death?
How do we continue living in the face of pain and loss? Structured according to the stages of the Buddhist grieving rituals the winning film tells such a story, about incidence and coincidence, about paths that crash and paths that cross. The director's subdued style opens up a space for intense emotional impact and thoughts about the cycles of life and death, even within one persons lifetime, that transcend the confines of plot and psychology. For opening up that universe, our prize goes to ZINNIA FLOWER by director Tom Shu-yu Lin."
ZINNIA FLOWER
A disastrous multiple-car crash in Taipei leaves Wei (Shih Chin-Hang) without his pregnant wife, and Ming (Karena Lam) without her fiancé. Being Buddhists, Wei and Ming are given 100 days to mourn the passing of their loved ones. As the 100th day of mourning approaches, the two start to wonder if time will ever fully heal their wounds.
Renowned for making sensitive and intimate films, director Tom Shu-Yu Lin delivers his most personal and powerful work yet with ZINNIA FLOWER.
Having lost his wife in 2012, he decided to make the film as a way to confront his own grief. Tender yet visceral, ZINNIA FLOWERS asks questions for which there may not be any clear answers.
CinemAsia Film Festival takes place from March 1st until 6th in Kriterion and Rialto. CinemAsia is a film festival that strives to broaden the horizons of the Dutch audience and film industry by offering an extensive and relevant overview of contemporary Asian cinema, through the latest and most popular blockbusters and films with a strong artistic vision. The festival also provides a creative platform for Asian filmmakers with CinemAsia FilmLAB.