37th Festival international du film de Fribourg

17.03.2023 to 26.03.2023
Fribourg


The Malaysian film "Abang Adik" by Jin Ong won the Ecumenical Jury Prize and the Audience Award at Fribourg 2023. The Grand Prix of the Festival as well as the Critics' Choice Award went to "Plan 75" by Chie Hayakawa (Japan, France, Philippines, Qatar 2022), the Special Jury Award to "World War III" by Houman Seyedi (Iran 2022).

On 17 March, the Festival international du film de Fribourg opened with the French-Japanese co-production "Umami" by Slony Sow, which belongs to the Genre Cinema section. This year it was dedicated to culinary cinema. In total, the festival, which is characterised by its concentration on films of world cinema, i.e. from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, showed 99 films in twelve sections. The Ecumenical Jury chose its winner from among the twelve long feature films in the international competition. The country focus was on films from the Republic of Moldova, the guest of honour Fatih Akin.

Link: Festival website

Awards

Directed by:
2023

Two young sans-papiers try to survive in a large Malaysian city. The older, deaf-mute Abang, protects and feeds the younger Adi, who is always on the edge of illegality.

We are impressed by the light-footed, fluid narration, the inspiring acting, the images full of warmth, the skillful use of sound and music: a flawless work, completely rounded.

The film is a plea for justice and human dignity, and it shows, in a universal way, strong solidarity among the marginalised of society. Their tragic life situation is illuminated by love and tenderness.