Tibetan road movie Kekexili: Mountain Patrol yesterday became the first mainland production to win best picture in Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Awards.
Portraying a bleak existence on the Tibetan plateau, mainland director Lu Chuan used his lens to accuse unethical poachers of slaughtering and trading in antelope wool. The film was nominated for five titles and won two, the other being best cinematography.
At the presentation ceremony held in the central city of Taichung last night, a surprised Lu thanked the panel of judges and the organiser for giving him the chance to contest the awards, known as the Asian Oscars.
'The organiser was very helpful. Everything was in a rush, and some of us were able to make it to Taichung,' he said.
He said the award was a great encouragement to young directors like himself.
The 33-year-old battled mainland censorship and sub-zero temperatures to make his film. Kekexili: Mountain Patrol has already won the special Jury Prize at the Tokyo Film Festival and will be screened at the Sundance festival.