2026/6/29
The awards ceremony for the International New Directors Competition at the 28th Taipei Film Festival kicked off grandly tonight (June 30). Led by Jury President Sabrina BARACETTI from Italy, the five-member jury unveiled the winners of these iconic awards. The biggest winner of this edition is the UK film Straight Circle, directed by Oscar HUDSON. The film dominated the night by sweeping the "Taiwan Directors Guild Award" and winning the "Audience Choice Award" thanks to strong resonance among film fans, before ultimately seizing the highest honor, the "Grand Prize," along with a generous cash prize of USD 10,000. Meanwhile, the richly layered Linka Linka also delivered an impressive performance, capturing the "Special Jury Prize" and taking home a USD 5,000 cash prize.

As one of the two core competition sections of the Taipei Film Festival, this ceremony—which has nurtured countless rising talents in cinema—attracted widespread industry attention. Taipei Film Festival Chairman Liao Ching-song also attended the event tonight. In his opening remarks, he stated: "The 10 shortlisted films this year stood out from over 400 enthusiastic submissions worldwide, showcasing local care and vibrant youthfulness across Europe, South America, and Asia. We are thrilled that the Taipei Film Festival serves as a stage for international exchange and a hub for creative energy. Let us look forward to the boundless future of these emerging directors!"

The jury lineup for this edition brought together heavyweights from home and abroad. Led by Sabrina BARACETTI, Chairperson of the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, the jury also included Taipei Film Awards Best Actress Hsieh Hsin-ying, Golden Horse Best Director Jun Li, director Lien Yi-chi of the hit Taiwanese series Light the Night, and Eiko Mizuno-Gray, CEO of Loaded Films, who executive produced Japan's Oscar entry Plan 75. Following intense deliberations, the five jurors jointly selected this year's "Grand Prize" and "Special Jury Prize" winners.

Established in partnership with the Directors Guild of Taiwan, the "Taiwan Directors Guild Award" was evaluated this year by three outstanding Taiwanese directors with distinctive styles. The lineup included Hou Chi-ran, known for his delicate narratives and winner of the Taipei Film Festival Grand Prize; Tsai Yin-juan, whose work long focuses on social issues, with representative titles including Paradise Lost and Tears on Fire; and Li Yun-chan, who won the Golden Horse Award for Best Live Action Short Film and directed the buzzworthy series Women in Taipei. These three experienced filmmakers jointly recommended the final winner of this year's award.

This year's Grand Prize went to Straight Circle. The jury praised the film as "meticulous in every aspect—from script and casting to production design and cinematography—the film uses a simple setup to explore a profound, yet well-known concept. It shifts from playful satire to a series of gripping climaxes. This timely and universal political allegory brilliantly and effectively delivers its core message: national borders are artificial, and cultural identities are mere illusions."

Riding on a wave of unstoppable momentum, the film also won the Audience Choice Award, favored heavily by Taiwanese film lovers who lauded it as a brilliant allegory full of absurd humor and sharp satire that transforms the serious topic of national identity into a deeply resonant, climax-filled ride. Additionally, it secured the Taiwan Directors Guild Award. The Directors Guild jury noted that "a universal but familiar allegory transcends expectations through the director's sharp and mature cinematic language, striking straight to the story's core. Brilliantly crafted in every aspect, it offers a profound reflection on our world today."

The Special Jury Prize was awarded to Linka Linka. The jury described the film as creating "a surprising and original portrait of Tibetan Generation Z, with a gaze as precise as it is gentle, moving within a layered and compelling narrative structure. The past, the memory of the past, and the present in Lhasa are skillfully intertwined. Kangdrun, the young director of this film, emerges as one of the new and significant voices in Tibetan cinema today."

Although Director Kangdrun could not attend in person, she expressed her heartfelt gratitude through a pre-recorded video from overseas. Director Kangdrun shared that this is a film about the coming-of-age journey of Tibetan youth, inspired by the real lived experiences of her generation: "Through this film, I hope to present a more contemporary Tibet, as well as the spiritual landscape and daily lives of young Tibetan people amid the process of urbanization."

Director Oscar HUDSON of Straight Circle, who took the stage three times tonight as the center of attention, couldn't help but joke about himself, saying he "seemed a bit too greedy tonight," and admitted the results completely exceeded his expectations. He emotionally expressed that seeing his work evoke such deep resonance among local audiences in Taiwan left him both fascinated and touched. He even revealed that he had secretly stood outside the screening halls to chat with fans after the movie, adding, "I will never get tired of cinema in my life!" Speaking to the inner voice of creators, he candidly and humorously remarked: "We don't make films to win awards, but to be honest, winning feels great! This is an independent film, and these awards will have a huge impact on its future life and its journey to the international stage." He then dedicated the honor to his production team who could not be present.

Film screenings for the 28th Taipei Film Festival will run from June 26 to July 7, 2026, at the Taipei Zhongshan Hall, SPOT-Huashan Cinema, and Eslite Art House. On July 11, the Taipei Film Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on CTS Main Channel (CH 12). Live streams will also be available simultaneously on OTT platforms including Chunghwa Telecom MOD, Hami Video, 4gTV, ELTA OTT, LiTV, and ofii, as well as Dish Network for overseas viewers. The official Taipei Film Festival YouTube channel and [LINE TODAY Movie] will also sync the broadcast, providing diverse viewing options across TV and the internet. Audiences are welcome to tune in to this grand cinematic event. For more information, please visit the official website: https://www.taipeiff.taipei/tw/.