Kazakh film 'The Divorce' takes top prize at SIFF

The prestigious Golden Goblet Awards ceremony of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) was held on Saturday, honoring films and talents from around the globe.

The top honor of the night, the Best Feature Film award, went to the Kazakh film "The Divorce." The film explores the complexities of a couple's turbulent relationship, combining elements of humor, farce, and tragedy. Its main actress, Omarova Amira, won the Best Actress award.

The award for Best Director was claimed by Georgian-born Bakur Bakuradze for his semi-autobiographical film "Snowflakes in My Yard," a collaborative effort between Georgia and Russia.

Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of a mentally challenged person in the film "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

The Jury Grand Prix went to the Argentine film "Adult," directed by Mariano Gonzalez.

Other notable awards included Best Screenplay, which was awarded to the Chinese film "The Hedgehog." The Best Cinematography accolade went to "A Man and A Woman," a collaboration between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. The Chinese production "Ms. Hu's Garden" won the Best Documentary Film award. Ahmad Bahrami, an Iranian director, received the Outstanding Artistic Achievement award for "The Wasteman." The Japanese film "The Colors Within" secured the prize for Best Animated Feature, while the Israeli production "The Event Horizon" won Best Live-Action Short Film in the short film category. Additionally, the Chinese film "Kill the Horse" was honored with the Best Animated Short Film award.

More than 3,700 films from 105 countries and regions vied for recognition at this year's festival, which featured 50 shortlisted films across five categories: Feature-length films, Asian new talent, Documentaries, Animated Films and Short Films.

Since its inception in 1993, SIFF has grown into a premier event on the global film calendar. This year's event will end on Sunday.