‘Always,’ ‘Riverstone’ Win Top Prizes at Singapore Film Festival

Chen Deming’s “Always” claimed the top prize at the Singapore International Film Festival‘s Silver Screen Awards, taking home best Asian feature film honors at the Dec. 7 ceremony.

The U.S.-France-China-Taiwan co-production triumphed in the Asian Feature Film Competition, highlighting the increasingly international nature of Asian cinema. The win caps a successful awards run for the film, including at CPH: DOX and El Gouna.

Lalith Rathnayake’s “Riverstone” emerged as another major winner of the evening, with the Sri Lankan filmmaker earning best director in the Asian Feature Film Competition. The film’s lead actor Mahendra Perera also secured best performance honors. The film previously won a brace of awards at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Thai cinema gained recognition with Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s “Human Resource” receiving the Fipresci Award, adding to its accolades at Venice. Fellow Thai director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s Cannes winner “A Useful Ghost,” a Thailand-Singapore-France co-production, earned a special mention in the Asian Feature Film Competition.

The ceremony also honored industry veterans, with Deepa Mehta receiving the Cinema Honorary Award and Youn Yuh-jung taking home the Screen Icon Award.

In the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition, Nelson Yeo’s “Through Your Eyes” won best southeast Asian Short Film, while Giselle Lin’s “Children’s Day” claimed best Singapore Short Film. Ananth Subramaniam won best director for the Malaysia-Philippines-France co-production “Bleat!,” Tysha Khan earned best performance for “Fruit,” and Batara Goempar took best cinematography for “Sammi, Who Can Detach His Body Parts.” Vietnamese filmmaker Huỳnh Công Nhớ’s “True Love” received a special mention.

The Audience Choice Award went to “Coda.”

Complete List of Winners

Honorary Awards

Cinema Honorary Award Deepa Mehta

Screen Icon Award Youn Yuh-jung

Audience Choice Award

“Coda,” directed by Jac Min (Singapore)

Asian Feature Film Competition

Best Asian Feature Film
“Always,” directed by Chen Deming (U.S., France, China, Taiwan)

Best Asian Feature Film (Special Mention)
“A Useful Ghost,” directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke (Thailand, Singapore, France)

Best Director
Lalith Rathnayake for “Riverstone” (Sri Lanka)

Best Performance
Mahendra Perera for “Riverstone” (Sri Lanka)

Fipresci Award
“Human Resource,” directed by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit (Thailand)

Southeast Asian Short Film Competition

Best Southeast Asian Short Film
“Through Your Eyes,” directed by Nelson Yeo (Singapore)

Best Singapore Short Film
“Children’s Day,” directed by Giselle Lin

Best Director
Ananth Subramaniam for “Bleat!” (Malaysia, Philippines, France)

Best Performance
Tysha Khan for “Fruit” (Singapore)

Best Cinematography
Batara Goempar for “Sammi, Who Can Detach His Body Parts” (Indonesia)

Special Mention
“True Love,” directed by Huỳnh Công Nhớ (Vietnam)