ARTICLE
Anthony Chen’s Wet Season wins big at China’s Pingyao International Film Festival
By Flora / 17 Oct 2019 (Thursday)
Image credit: Giraffe Pictures
Singapore’s ‘Wet Season’ won the Fei Mu Best Film Award, Cinephilia Critics' Award, while actress Yeo Yann Yann was also awarded Feimu Best Actress at the prestigious Pingyao International Film Festival.
The Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival(PYIFF) was founded by Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhang-ke and film historian Marco Müller, celebrates the achievements of international cinema and promotes the works of young Chinese directors.
Wet Season《热带雨》tells a story about about a Chinese language teacher, whose marriage and school life are fraying apart because she is unable to bear a child.
The Jury panel includes actress Joan Chen and artistic director of the Berlin International Film Festival Carlo Chatrian, said that the film “is directed with maturity and restrain, and observed everyday life with sensitivity. The film transcends boundaries and cultures through its truthful and universal characters.”
“The journey of filming Wet Season was tumultuous and filled with challenges. I am elated that the audience recognised our sincerity and hope that more audiences in China can get a chance to watch our film.” said Anthony, director of Wet Season.
Yeo Yann Yann accepted her trophy on stage with a heartfelt speech, thanking director Anthony Chen and mentor Kuo Pao Kun among others. “I am extremely grateful for this award and the affirmation from Pingyao International Film Festival. It means a lot to me that audiences enjoy the film and appreciate my character, Ling. Playing Ling was very challenging for me since her personality is completely different from Yeo Yann Yann, I had to break myself in order to embark on Ling’s journey. It was extremely gruelling yet strangely fulfilling.”
Wet Season will head home and premiere in Singapore as the Opening Film at the Singapore International Film Festival on Nov 21. It will open commercially on Nov 28, with sneak previews from Nov 22.