By Creative Media Times

“Shoplifters,” Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda was named Best Foreign Language Film of the Year at Palm Springs International Film Festival. The jury award winners were announced today at the Riviera Palm Springs, California.

The film 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.

Other announced winners include Marcello Fonte, star of Italy’s Dogman and Joanna Kulig, of Poland’s Cold War, took top honors in the foreign language acting categories.

The Audience Awards for is set to be announced tomorrow, which includes Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature.

The 30th Annual Palm Springs Film Festival screened 226 films from 78 countries. The festival is held from January 3-14, 2019.