THE FAREWELL WINS BIG AT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

Lulu Wang’s film “The Farewell” received the top award at this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards, winning Best Feature. During Wang’s acceptance speech, she thanked her grandmother who inspired the film and stated that there are plenty of female filmmakers and although there are programs and encouragement, that is not enough.

“There has been a lot of conversation this year about how to encourage more women to be in film or get more women into the conversation. I just have to say, you don’t have to encourage women, there are lots of women making films and who want to make films and who are in film school. And so shadowing is great, programs are great but really what women need is just the job. Give them the freaking job. Give them the money…”

Actress Zhao Shuzhen who played Nai Nai in “The Farewell” won the award for Best Supporting Female Actress. Unfortunately Shuzhen was not available to accept her award because she was not able to leave her home in China due to the Coronavirus. Lulu Wang accepted her award on her behalf.

Best International Film at the Film Independent Spirit Awards was given to Parasite.