'Mogadishu' and 'Jabaek' Win Asian Best Film and Director Awards at Fantasporto International Film Festival

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Director Ryu Seung-wan's film 'Mogadishu' won the Best Asian Film award at the Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal.

On the 13th, through Lotte Entertainment, Director Ryu said, "It is an honor to receive such a great award," adding, "Even at this moment, we are not free from war. I hope our film can help create a more peaceful world, even if just a little. I pray for the swift end of the war in Ukraine."

The Fantasporto International Film Festival is one of the world's top three fantastic international film festivals and the premier film festival in Portugal, celebrating its 42nd edition this year.

Mario Dominski, the executive chairman, explained the reason for the invitation: "Stories born from uncertainty and violence are guided by light. Through 'Mogadishu's' story of escape and salvation, Somalia's inhumane conflict regains a human face."

The film, released in July last year, depicts the life-and-death escape of people trapped by civil war in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, in 1991, attracting 3.61 million viewers.

Director Yoon Jong-seok's 'Confession' won the Best Director award in the Directors' Week section at the same festival. The upcoming film tells the story of a promising businessman accused of a locked-room murder case and a lawyer trying to prove his innocence as they piece together hidden parts of the case.

Director Yoon expressed, "I am grateful to receive the Best Director award. It feels new and meaningful to receive good reviews overseas before the domestic release. I hope the global film market regains its vitality like before COVID-19 so that we can meet many audiences soon."

Additionally, 'Confession' was also nominated for the Best Screenplay award at the Udine Far East Film Festival.

A representative from Lotte Entertainment, which invested in and distributed both films, said, "It is an honor that our distributed works could be present at the meaningful beginning and end of an event exchanging Korean and European cultures," adding, "We will continue to bring works that satisfy audiences from various countries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.