‘Friday, Funfair’ wins for Best Film in Asian New Talent category

Chinese director Zeng Zhi could not contain his excitement on receiving the award for Best Film for “Friday, Funfair” in the Asian New Talent category at the Golden Goblet Awards on June 20.

Five of the shortlisted films won six major awards, with Indian production "In the Name of Fire" taking Best Director and Best Actor trophies.

This year's event was the 20th edition of the Asian New Talent honor, and the competition was particularly fierce.

"Friday, Funfair" follows a week in the life of a mother, a wife, and a daughter. It focuses on the roles and dilemmas of women in today's society and brings each character to life through three generations.

The excited Zeng Zhi said in his live streamed acceptance speech that he would like to take the opportunity to answer his mother’s usual three questions.

"Mothers worry about where their children are right now, whether they have eaten, and what they have been doing lately. She never asks me to succeed. She only wants me to be well,” he said.

"Mom, I'm in Shanghai now, and I may have to take a flight to Beijing later. I'm doing well, I'll go eat something after the awards are over. Then I will continue to make films," Zeng said, waving the trophy to the camera.

It was such a simple acceptance speech that it felt like a normal video call with his mom, not a live streaming broadcast after receiving the most important award in the Asian New Talent competition at China’s premier film festival.

Winners:

Best Film: "Friday, Funfair"

Best Director: Abhilash Sharma from India for "In the Name of Fire"

Best Actor: Satya Ranjan from India for "In the Name of Fire"

Best Actress: Jayashri from India for "Bird of a Different Feather"

Best Script Writer: Zhang Xuyu from China for "Fishbone"

Best Cinematography: Huang Shaohui from China for "Habitat"