‘Shoplifters’ Wins Best Picture at Asian Film Awards - Creative Media TimesCreative Media Times

By Creative Media Times

Aoi Pro, Inc.

“Shoplifters,” Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda wins best picture at the Asian Film Awards, held in Hong Kong on Sunday.

South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong was also a big winner, taking home Best Director for his work on the psychological drama mystery, “Burning.”

But it was the Chinese period film from Zhang Yimou “Shadow,” which won the most awards, bagging four technical awards including Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.

“Shoplifters” premiered at Cannes last year and won the top prize Palme d’Or, highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It is also on the Academy Awards’ shortlist for a Best Foreign Language category.

The family drama, which was also scripted and edited by Kore-eda, tells the story of an impoverished Japanese family who reply on shoplifting to cope with their life.

Here’s the full list of winners:

Best Picture
“Shoplifters”

Best Director
Lee Chang-dong, “Burning”

Best Actor
Yakusho Kōji, “The Blood of Wolves”

Best Actress
Samal Yeslyamova, “Ayka”

Best Supporting Actor
Zhang Yu, “Dying to Survive”

Best Supporting Actress
Kara Wai, “Tracey”

Best Newcomer
Johnny Huang Jingyu, “Operation Red Sea”

Best New Director
Oliver Chan Siu Kuen, “Still Human”

Best Production Design
Ma Kwong Wing, “Shadow”

Best Visual Effects
Alex Lim Hung Fung, “Project Gutenberg”

AFA Rising Star Award
Park Seo-joon

Best Costume Design
Chen Minzheng, “Shadow”