Golden Coconut Awards laud film excellence at HIIFF closing ceremony

The winners of the Golden Coconut Awards at the 5th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) were revealed at a closing ceremony held in Sanya, China’s Hainan Province on Friday.

The jury, chaired by Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan, selected winners in categories including Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Film, awarding a total of 10 prizes among 4,018 entries from 109 countries and regions.

The American film "Family Portrait" pocketed Best Picture and Best Artistic Contribution, while its lead actress Deragh Campbell won the Best Actress Award. "Rapture" co-produced by India, Switzerland, Qatar, and the Netherlands won the Special Jury Prize. "Snow Leopard," the final film by late Tibetan director Pema Tseden won the Best Director Award.

The French film "The Animal Kingdom," the Italian film "Strangeness," the Dutch film "Kiddo," the Cameroonian film "The Spectre of Boko Haram," and the Philippine film "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" have also been recognized.

According to the film festival's official website, the 5th HIIFF, spanning a week, featured vibrant events such as the Golden Coconut Awards competition, film screenings, masterclasses, and the Coconut Carnival. Three forums, focusing on the Hainan Free Trade Port film industry, film digital copyright management, film technology innovation, and documentary filmmaking, explored the new vision of China's film industry, film creation, and the future of imaging.

This year's festival curated themed screening sections, offering audiences a glimpse into outstanding films from around the world. The selections included acclaimed works from previous international film festivals and timeless classics from both Chinese and foreign directors.