Taiwan-produced “Cities of Last Things” won the Platform prize for risk-taking movies with high artistic merit at the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival Sept. 16.
Making its world premiere at the event, the drama by Taiwan-based Malaysian filmmaker Ho Wi Ding centers on depressed former police officer Lao Zhang and his long-soured relationship with his unfaithful wife. Unfolding in reverse chronological order, the movie depicts the three critical nights in Zhang’s past that shaped his personality and interactions with women.
According to the festival jury, the director demonstrated an exceptional ability to “weave together multiple genres with social and political critique, while telling a story that remains intimately human at its core.” Describing “Cities of Last Things” as deeply moving, the jury wrote “the film has a spirit that always feels beautifully close to real life.”
Unable to attend the award ceremony, Ho expressed gratitude for the prize through a short video. Noting that the project took many years to complete, he conveyed special thanks to his wife Hu Chih-hsin, one of the producers of the movie, for accompanying him on this journey.
“Cities of Last Things” was the sole entry from East and Southeast Asia on the 12-strong shortlist for the fourth edition of the Platform award, which comes with a cash prize of 25,000 Canadian dollars (US$19,180). The 107-minute production is set to be screened at the Busan International Film Festival running Oct. 4-13 in South Korea before opening nationwide in Taiwan from Oct. 26.
Founded in 1976, the TIFF is one of the largest film festivals in the world, attracting an average of more than 6,000 submissions annually. A total of 342 were screened over the course of the 11-day festival this year, including 254 features and 88 shorts, according to the event organizer. (CPY-E)
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