With a sigh of sadness and relief, the 2009 New York Asian Film Festival ends today, with our final screening, the World Premiere of Sion Sono’s BE SURE TO SHARE, starring actor Eiji Okuda. Sono and Okuda are here in NY with us, and will provide us with what’s sure to be a titillating post-screening Q&A session. Check our YouTube channel for the video of that some time later this week.
Prior to the screening, our 2009 jury announced their picks for the official competition awards.
Best Actor Award goes to Ge You for IF YOU ARE THE ONE
Best Actress Award goes to Tae Kimura for ALL AROUND US
Best Ensemble Performance Award goes to the cast of ALL AROUND US
Best Debut Feature Award goes to director Yang Ik-June for BREATHLESS
Best Visual Achievement goes to THE CLONE RETURNS HOME
Special Award for Best Pop Culture Rush goes to FISH STORY
Special Award for Audacity goes to CRUSH AND BLUSH
And the 2009 Grand Jury Prize goes to Sion Sono’s LOVE EXPOSURE!
Congratulations to all the winners. Watch this space this week for the announcement of the winner of the Audience Award prize! And thanks to all our sponsors, volunteers, partners and most of all, our audience, for allowing us to bring you the kinds of movies that we love to watch, in the hope that some of you might enjoy them as well.
Of the ones I saw, Fish Story was my favorite!! What an ending!!! I recommended it to a friend who agreed it was awesome
Another great year Subway Cinema! I only wish I could have seen more …
I am glad to see Crush and Blush acknowledged by the jury. Of the 13 movies I saw, Love Exposure left the biggest impact, but Crush and Blush was definitely a close second.
Maybe it’s all in the Bolero?!
‘looking forward to you guys kicking ass and blowing minds again next year.
Old fish was a masterpiece. Damned fun festival guys thank you!
P.S. I have some crazy footage of tokyo gore night if you want it.
Thanks for another great year!
See you next year. It’s so far….sigh!
Ok so I saw grand jury prize winner Love Exposure last night. 4 hours and not a wasted moment. There’s plenty of warning in the descriptions about the transgressiveness of the movie but little hint about its lushness and ultimately emotionally satisfying story. I got chills from head to toe when the “miracle” happens and the movie suddenly accelerates on a number of different levels (if you saw it you know what I mean). In polite company I may have to disavow knowledge of this movie but of the ones I saw it was the best of the festival + I would watch it again tomorrow if it were screening