Georgian production In Bloom, co-directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross, was presented with the Firebird Award in the Young Cinema Competition at the close of the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) last night.

The jury said it was impressed by “how the simple growing up story tells so much about the everyday violence and fear in Georgia in the time of turmoil portrayed in a poetic style in stark contrast”. The film was also awarded the FIPRESCI prize.

All Apologies, a cautionary tale about China’s one-child policy directed by Emily Tang, was awarded the Jury Prize in the Young Cinema Competition, while Yang Lina’s Longing For The Rain received a Special Mention.

The jury for the Young Cinema Competition included Pia Film Festival director Keiko Araki, Korea’s Park Ki-yong and Hong Kong filmmaker Yim Ho.

The SIGNIS award, which recognises films that express social and humanitarian concerns, was presented to Atiq Rahimi’s The Patience Stone, while Anand Gandhi’s Ship Of Theseus received a Special Mention.

The Firebird Award in the Documentary Competition went to Roots by Ikeya Kaoru, while the Jury Prize went to Wang Libo’s Oh, The San Xia. Redemption Impossible, co-directed by Christian Rost and Claus Strigel, also received a Special Mention.

In the Short Film Competition, Zia Mandviwalla’s Night Shift scooped the Firebird Award; Peter Volkart’s Room 606 took the Jury Prize, and Lam Ho-tak’s Soeng was awarded the Special Prize.

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