2019 Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival Award Winners
On October 27, the 2019 LA Chinese Film Festival presented the Award Ceremony at Downtown Independent! Of the twenty-three final selections, six films went home with awards, including Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short, and Best Experimental & Animation Short. The festival also recognized two films with special awards: The Independent Spirit Award and the Up and Coming Award.
BEst Narrative feature the little shrimp
The award for Best Narrative Feature went to The Little Shrimp, directed by Chilam Chan/Zhilin Chen. From the most ordinary family life, we witness the transition of the times, the puzzles and challenges faced by young people, and the dramatic changes in a family. As the director’s debut, it is amazing and exciting enough.
Jury member Michael Berry (left) presents the Best Narrative Feature Award to director Chilam Chan (Zhilin Chen) (right).
The Little Shrimp
best Documentary feature In Character
The Best Documentary Feature went to In Character by Director Tracy Dong. In Character discussed not only China's political changes during the Cultural Revolution, but also the shortcomings and pressures of collective power. It's like a social experiment, allowing us to understand how groups change people's behavior.
In Character
Jury member Zhou Hao (left) presents the Best Documentary Feature Award to winner Tracy Dong (right).
best Narrative short Sports Day
Sports Day, directed by Lin Tu won the Best Narrative Short. The film uses wonderful visual language to show us a girl's psychological and physical feelings of fear in her first sexual experience. Unlike traditional thrillers, the poetic horror, plain reality and absolute nightmares of Sports Day are intertwined, making it a rare youth horror film.
Jury Peter Markham (left) and director’s Friend (right)
Sports Day
best Experimental & Animation Short The Remedy
The Remedy, directed by Zilai Feng, won the Best Experimental & Animation Short. The film tells a story about memory and healing. With a metaphorical story line, the humorous story narrates how the protagonist cured the childhood depression in his memory. The unique style and excellent production are impressive.
The Remedy
Jury member Momo Wang (left) and director Zilai Feng (right)
Up and Coming award sister
Sister, from director Siqi Song, won the Up and Coming Award of LACFF. The stop-motion animation Sister brought viewers to the lonely life of China’s one-child generation. The solid narrative skills and lovely style reveal the unlimited creative potential of the director.
Jury member Alexander Stewart (left) and director Siqi Song (right)
Independent Spirit award Confucian dream
Mijie Li won the Independent Spirit Award with the documentary feature Confucian Dream. The director boldly and skillfully captured the weaknesses of each character and the conflict between modern women's personal growth and family sacrifice.
Jury member Alan Heim (left) and writer/editor Yuepu Zhou (right)
“Congratulations to the winners and their teams! We appreciate the support from our jury members, sponsors, partner organizations, and all volunteers! ”