Taiwanese Film "Uncle" Wins Big in Tokyo

Taiwanese project "Uncle," directed by Yen Hao-hsuan, has earned significant recognition at the seventh Tokyo Gap-Financing Market. The film secured the Tokyo Project Award and previously won the Asian Gen-Z Award. This debut feature, set between 1997 and 2000 in rural Taiwan, is a personal narrative inspired by Yen's own experiences growing up with an uncle with an intellectual disability. It follows a boy whose devotion to his uncle transforms into shame as he matures and leaves home.

The jury commended "Uncle" for its unflinching exploration of societal prejudices, noting its brave stance against them without compromise. The Asian Gen-Z Award, chosen by film students, specifically recognized the film's appeal to younger audiences and its powerful, unvarnished storytelling. Other awards at the market included the White Light Post-Production Award for "Wild Zero Overdrive" and the Mellow Tunes Sound Design Award for "Nature Boy."