Pema Tseden’s Film Wins Top Prize at International Film Festival

Well known Tibetan film maker Pema Tseden’s mystery film Jinpa has won the top prize at an International Asian film festival. The 25th Cyclo d’Or (Golden Rickshaw) award at the Fica, the Festival International des Cinémas d’Asie went to the Tibetan film. Besides the Golden Rickshaw, film Jinpa also won two other awards at the film festival.

“The 25th Cyclo d’Or (Golden Rickshaw) award at the Fica, the Festival International des Cinémas d’Asie, went to Pema Tseden’s Jinpa, a mystery story with a philosophical thrust. The film won three of this year’s 12 awards.” said the report by RFI on Wednesday adding that the all directors jury comprised of Bae Chang-ho from South Korea, Palestinian Rashid Masharawi, and Kazakh Darezhan Omirbaev led by Singaporean Eric Khoo, all agreed that it was original in its style and cinematic language.

Ace Tibetan filmmaker film was also awarded the best screenplay at the Orizzonti (Horizons) program of the 75th Venice International Film Festival. Jinpa was premiered at the international platform in Venice attracted praises from the critics and audiences alike.

The screenplay of ‘Jinpa’, written by its director Pema Tseden has put two short stories together; one is “The Killer” by Tibetan writer Tsering Norbu, and the other is Pema Tseden’s own short story “I Ran Over a Sheep.”. The movie revolves around a man’s journey on road where his car runs over a sheep. It’s an enjoyable, teasing and very sly-humoured watch with a charismatic lead and arresting visuals.

Besides the Golden Rickshaw, Pema Tseden’s film also won the Critics’ Award  and the INALCO’s Special Award at the festival. The festival that was held from February 5 to 12 this year in Vesoul in the east of France drew 32 700 visitors.

See also  Tibetan Artists Silenced at Dhaka Art Summit

Jinpa is the fifth feature from director Pema Tseden, whose films include The Silent Holy Stones (2006) and Tharlo, a 2015 entry in Venice’s Orizzonti section. The 75th Venice International Film Festival closed with Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” winning the festival’s Golden Lion. Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” scored two big awards — the Grand Jury Prize, the fest’s second-most prestigious prize, and the best actress (Olivia Colman).

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