‘Balloon’ Takes Best Picture at Hainan Island International Film Festival1 min read
Reading Time: < 1 minutePema Tsedan’s Balloon was named best picture while Wang Lina’s A First Farewell took awards for best director and best actress (Sonam Wangmo) at the first Golden Coconut Awards at China’s Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) on 8 December 8.
Both films, in the Tibetan language and Uighur language respectively, coincidentally touch on ethnic minority issues in China.
The Golden Coconut Awards are a new addition this year, handing out cash prizes in 10 categories among films selected for the festival’s international competition for feature, documentary and short films. Winners also include Tunisian filmmaker Mehdi M Barsaoui’s A Son, which walked away with best screenplay and shared the best actor prize for Sami Bouajila’s performance.
Photo Credit: Film still from ‘Balloon’; Rediance
