Iranian, Kazakh films win major award at Busan festival

Two productions which paint vastly different portraits of modern existence have taken home the major award at Asia's most prestigious film festival, with judges praising both for their ability to celebrate life.

Iranian director Hadi Mohaghegh's "Immortal" and "Walnut Tree" from Kazakhstan's Yerlan Nurmukhambetov were Saturday morning named the winners of the New Currents award for first- and second-time filmmakers at the 20th Busan International Film Festival, each receiving US$30,000.

"Immortal", a moving tale about a suicidal man and the grandson determined to convince him he has many reasons to live, was praised by New Currents jury president Sylvia Chang for its "extraordinary feat of visual storytelling, filled with emotion."

Meanwhile "Walnut Tree", which looks at the interaction within a small, close-knit community, was a simple film that "proves how humour, kindness, and forgiveness connect us all", said veteran Taiwanese filmmaker Chang.