Chinese film, actress win Chicago awards

CHICAGO -- Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke's latest film "Ash Is Purest White" won the Silver Hugo for Best Director at the ongoing 54th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) at AMC River East 21 in the US state of Illinois on Friday.

The film "was shot with masterfully crafted mise-en-scene that allows us to observe the complexity of its characters and the evolution of a country," the international competition jury stated.

Actress Zhao Tao who plays the role of QiaoQiao in the film received Silver Hugo for Best Actress. Zhao's performance covered a journey of 20 years in a fast changing era in China.

"Tao burns with brilliance, wit, and ferociousness as a woman whose steps are haunted by her history and what may come next," said the jury.

Categories of awards presented Friday night include International Feature Film Competition; New Directors Competition; International Documentary Competition; Out-Look Competition; and Short Film Competition. The Chicago Award and the Founder's Award were also presented.

Alice Rohrwacher's "Happy as Lazzaro" wins the Gold Hugo for its poetic cinematic language. Films from Vietnam, Australia, Peru, Britain, the Netherlands, Mexico and the United States are among the major winners across the festival's other competitions.

"We are proud to honor these extraordinary films from around the world and here at home, saluting a diverse lineup of singular filmmakers and their work," said Festival Artistic Director Mimi Plauche.

Select award-winning films will be screened during the festival's Best of the Fest program on Sunday, the last day of the festival.