Wang Yen-ni (王嬿妮) won the best director award in the international competition at the 12th International Student Film Festival in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday.
Wang, a student of the Department of Motion Pictures at National Taiwan University of Arts, won the award for her short film The Secret in the Wind.
She beat students from 86 film schools that are based in more than 50 countries around the world to win the award at the festival, which was hosted by Tel Aviv University.
The Tel Aviv festival, held every two years since 1986, is one of the largest and most important festivals for student movie makers.
Wang was the only Asian film student to win a major award in the international competition at this year’s festival.
A total of 140 films were selected for the competition, with awards presented for the best documentary, best fictional movie, best animation or experimental movie, best script, best cinematography, best direction and a special jury commendation.
One of the judges praised Wang for her masterful portrayal of family relations, particularly the interaction between mother and daughter, saying that her ability to blend Eastern and Western cultures and values in the film drew the attention of the critics and judges at the festival.
At Sunday’s presentation ceremony, Wang seemed stunned and was speechless when her name was announced. In her acceptance speech, Wang thanked her teachers as well as her family and friends for their support, adding proudly: “I come from Taiwan.”
Wang also thanked the organizers for holding a great festival, saying that she spent most of her time during the festival in theaters enjoying the many great short films from around the world that were being screened.
The Secret in the Wind won the praise of ordinary moviegoers at the festival, with many commenting that the film showed that Taiwan is a beautiful place and that the Taiwanese were warm and friendly people.
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