Actress-turned-director wins the new talent award

Jiang Wenli\'s first feature film "Lan" won the Best Feature Film Award at the Asian New Talent Award Film Competition last night. This is the famous actress\' first feature film as a director and writer.
 

"My birthday is the day after tomorrow and this is the best birthday present," Jiang said, "I attended the film festival 5 years ago as a jury member. I hope the Asian New Talent Award will be better and better in the future."

 

The film shows the heartwarming relationship between a little girl and her grandpa. Jiang said that the film is also a reflection of her own childhood with her grandpa.

 

"I have the dream of bringing the story onto the screen." Jiang said.

 

The Best Director Award went to Korean director Jung Ki-hoon, whose film "Goodbye Mom" tells a heartbreaking story of mother and child. Jung was very excited and happy to win the award.

 

"I can come back to Korea not empty handed," Jung said."The Executioner" directed by Choi Jin-ho (Korean) won the Jury Prix Award. The jury picked this film because it not only focuses on social problems, but also is commercially successful.

 

The story shows the great impact of the death penalty on both the prisoners and executioners. "The Executioner" is Choi\'s debut feature film.

 

Philippine director Milo Sogueco\'s first feature film "The Pawnshop" took the Student\'s Choice Award. The film was shot only in 9 days. The story is about a small fledgling pawnshop in the heart of Tondo in Manila. Sogueco said that he doesn\'t make films for critics, but for everyone.

 

"Making a film is like getting married," Sogueco said."You have to be fully committed."

 

Starting in 2004 Shanghai International Film Festival, the Asian New Talent Award takes the responsibility of discovering and supporting new Asian filmmakers. The international jury of this year\'s competition includes Korean director Hur Jin-ho, Britain director, producer and cinematographer Phil Agland, Japanese producer Shozo Ichiyama, Hong Kong Chinese actress Charlie Young and Chinese director Pema Tseden.