Lucky Lu tops MIFFest winners at Malaysia Golden Global Awards
Lloyd Lee Choi’s Lucky Lu won best film as MIFFest honored movies and artists from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Lucky Lu topped the Lucky Lu MIFFest winners story on Saturday, taking best film at the Malaysia Golden Global Awards during the closing ceremony of the 9th Malaysia International Film Festival, Variety reported.
The film, directed by Lloyd Lee Choi, is a U.S.-Canada co-production. Its win put it at the front of a ceremony that, according to Variety, spread prizes across productions and filmmakers from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
Who won the top MIFFest awards?
Morad Mostafa won best director for Aisha Can’t Fly Away, a co-production involving Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Sudan, according to Variety.
The Chilean-Argentine-Italian drama The Red Hangar was one of the night’s double winners. Luis Emilio Guzmán won best screenplay, while Diego Peguero received best cinematography.
Variety reported that Peguero, accepting the cinematography award, said the movie began with a group of friends and that he was proud they had turned their passion into the film.
Sri Lankan drama Riverstone also collected two prizes in the acting categories. Mahendra Perera was named best actor, and Priyantha Sirikumara won best supporting actor.
Taiwan’s Audrey Lin won best supporting actress for Girl. The best actress award was split between Ong Xuan Jing for Singapore’s Ah Girl and Lila Gueneau for Silent Rebellion, Variety reported.
What is the Malaysia Golden Global Awards?
The Malaysia Golden Global Awards are presented as part of MIFFest, the Malaysia International Film Festival. The prizes recognize films, directors, actors and craft work shown through the festival’s international competition.
Ah Girl added another honor with the New Hope Award for director Ang Geck Geck Priscilla. The Audience Choice Award went to Sirât, the Spanish-French production directed by Oliver Laxe.
Which special honors were given at MIFFest?
The ceremony also included two career honors. Chinese actor, filmmaker and producer Wu Jing received the Excellent Achievement Award, Variety reported.
Wu was at the festival for a special screening of Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert, directed by Yuen Woo-ping. Variety reported that Wu thanked collaborators and family while accepting the award, with special thanks to his wife for supporting him through his career.
Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong received the Lifetime Achievement Award. According to Variety, Lee said on stage that he accepted the honor as encouragement to continue making films, rather than as recognition alone.
Full winners list
- Best film: Lucky Lu, directed by Lloyd Lee Choi
- Best director: Morad Mostafa, Aisha Can’t Fly Away
- Best actress: Ong Xuan Jing, Ah Girl, and Lila Gueneau, Silent Rebellion
- Best actor: Mahendra Perera, Riverstone
- Best supporting actress: Audrey Lin, Girl
- Best supporting actor: Priyantha Sirikumara, Riverstone
- Best screenplay: Luis Emilio Guzmán, The Red Hangar
- Best cinematography: Diego Peguero, The Red Hangar
- New Hope Award: Ah Girl, directed by Ang Geck Geck Priscilla
- Audience Choice Award: Sirât, directed by Oliver Laxe
- Excellent Achievement Award: Wu Jing
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Lee Chang-dong
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.