Taipei, July 5 (CNA) South African director John Trengove on Tuesday won the Grand Prize in Taipei Film Festival's International New Talent Competition for his film "The Wound."
"The Wound" is about Xolani, a lonely factory worker, who travels to the mountains of the Eastern Cape in South Africa to take part in a traditional ceremony initiating a group of teenage boys into manhood. Xolani's life is thrown into crisis when one of the initiates discovers his secret - that he is in love with another man.
"The film successfully portrays the psychology and internal conflicts of the characters, and deals with themes of traditional culture and homosexuality that are urgent and need to be told with greater currency," according to the five-member jury, chaired by Turkish film director and screenwriter Reha Erdem.
"I just want to say that the people who participated in this film were particularly brave," Trengove said in his acceptance speech.
"They gave something very personal to this project and I'm forever grateful for what they did and for the trust that they put in me," said Trengove, who received a cash award of NT$600,000 (US$19,660) and a trophy.
"The Wound" stood out from among the 12 films selected for the final stage of the competition.
Also at the ceremony on Tuesday, the Special Jury Prize, which comes with a cash award of NT$300,000, was presented to director Oliver Laxe for his drama "Mimosas."
The Audience's Choice Award, meanwhile, went to Taiwanese director Huang Hsin-yao for his dark comedy "The Great Buddha +."
The annual competition, now in its 13th year, honors young filmmakers and new talent from around the world.
