TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese actress Wu Ke-xi (吳可熙) won the Hong Kong International Film Festival’s Firebird Award for Best Actress on Sunday.
Wu earned the honor for her performance in “Blue Sun Palace,” a film about the lives of migrant workers living in Queens, New York. Upon hearing the news while working in Los Angeles, Wu dedicated the award to all those who live and work in a foreign country, per CNA.
“Blue Sun Palace” has appeared at several major international festivals, including Cannes, where it won the French Touch Jury Award. The film has also received praise for its male lead, Lee Kang-sheng (李康生), a longtime collaborator of Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮).
In their statement, the Firebird Award jury said: “This is a story about a group of people living in a foreign land. They brought to life the powerlessness, the wandering, and the shared destiny of immigrants, allowing the audience to be immersed in a world where women are oppressed.”
The jury added that Wu’s smart performance made an indispensable contribution to the film and won unanimous recognition from the judges.
This marks Wu’s first award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. She thanked the jury for their encouragement, which she said gave her the strength and courage to continue making films. She also expressed gratitude to the festival for giving audiences more opportunities to see the work.
Wu said she hopes the world sees her character, Amy, as a symbol of perseverance. “You are not alone,” she said. “All the suffering or pain will pass, and become nutrients for you to become a better self.”
“Blue Sun Palace” will have its Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday, with a wide release scheduled for Friday. The film opens in Taiwan on April 30.
