Taiwan director Huang Hui-chen’s “Small Talk” won the Teddy Award in the Best Documentary category at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival Feb. 17 in the German capital.
Produced by renowned Taiwan director Hou Hsiao-hsien, the film is the first local documentary to be selected to feature in the BIFF’s Panorama category, which is designed to connect filmmakers and buyers.
An expanded version of the short film “The Priestess Walks Alone” released in 2015, “Small Talk” explores the relationship between the heterosexual director and her homosexual mother Anu, a Taoist priestess.
“‘Small Talk’ is the director’s courageous portrayal of her family story, which gives the audience an inside look at a culture we might not be familiar with,” according to a statement from the award jury. “This powerful documentary manages to be of universal significance and extremely intimate at the same time,” it added.
“This is too good to be true. I never thought my little film could bring us this far,” Huang said during her acceptance speech. “Thanks to Teddy Award for giving us the best gift for everyone who has worked very hard to achieve marriage equality.”
“Small Talk” also received nominations in the best documentary and film editing categories at the 2016 Golden Horse Awards, Taiwan’s equivalent of the Oscars. It took home the Audience Choice Award.
Since 1987, the Teddy Award has been given to directors and performers for achievements in LGBT cinema. “Small Talk” is the second Taiwan production to earn the honor, following “Spider Lilies,” which won in 2007 in the Best Feature Film category. (SFC-E)
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