Grand Prize
『Balloon』
Director： Pema Tseden
China/ 2019 / 102min
～The winning film's director will receive 1,000,000 yen.
Tokyo FILMeX has recognized the outstanding work of this director in the past, but this new film represents a new level of film expression in his work.
From its opening play with point-of-view to its beautiful homage to Hou Hisao Hsien in the closing scene, it brings a broad, sophisticated perspective to a particularly Tibetan conundrum : a clash between Buddhist beliefs, state policy and personal psychological factors, which tells us a lot about Tibetan life today. The 2019 FILMeX Grand Prize goes to Pema Tseden’s BALOON.
Special Jury Prize
『Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains』
Director： GU Xiaogang
China / 2019/ 154min
～The winning film's director will receive 500,000 yen.
This heroically ambitious debut feature explores a family history and a local culture with precision and a wonderful sense of style. It makes reference to Chinese traditions, both ancient and modern, in its story telling and images. But at the same it represents a very modern intervention in contemporary Chinese film culture. As Gu Xiaogang’s first feature, it’s a remarkable achievement.
Special Mention
『Last Night I Saw You Smiling』
Director： NEANG Kavich
Cambodia,France / 2019 / 77min
In this film Neang Kavich confronts the memories which are embedded in one building and its inhabitants, but it is not a film rooted in nostalgia. Several hundred households were forced to leave the White Building in Phnom Penh when it was acquired by a Japanese company.
People's lives were destroyed in the name of "urban renewal" -- and to boost the profits of the state and private companies. This is a form of violence, and it occurs wherever "redevelopment" is in progress.
The film faces this sad reality with clear-eyed calm.
Special Mention
『book-paper-scissors』
Director： NANAKO Hirose
Japan / 2019 / 94min
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The film shows admiration and respect for the status of books, eternal friends of human beings in the past and in the present.
May people of the future never be deprived of touching, smelling, seeing and feeling the paper of books. Books are noble friends. May we inherit them!
Audience Award
『Silent Rain』
Director：RYUTARO Nakagawa
Japan/ 2019 / 99min
Student Jury Prize
『Last Night I Saw You Smiling』
Director：NEANG Kavich
Cambodia,France / 2019 / 77min
Casual but carefully calculated director's camera proves the fact which can be said to be the origin of cinema. If we realize that the daily life illusioned as infinite is finite, we can take the camera and make it eternal.
As soon as the movie was over, we wanted to make a movie.
