3 more awards for Ilo Ilo

SINGAPORE — The awards just keep on coming for Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo as it swept three major awards at the 11th Pacific Meridian Film Festival in Vladivostok, Russia.

The Cannes-winning film bagged awards for Best Feature and the special NETPAC (Network For The Promotion Of Asian Cinema) prize. Actress Yeo Yann Yann also won for Best Actress.

Chen, who is currently at the Toronto Film Festival, said: “I’m so heartened that our humble Singapore film has once again moved jury members so far away and I’m even more happy for Yann Yann’s win on the Best Actress award. There has been a lot of praise accorded to the film in recent months but I’m so glad Yann Yann is finally getting formal recognition for her hard work and generosity on Ilo Ilo. It is the efforts of so many people including cast and crew that made Ilo Ilo what it is. I’m both grateful and thankful.”

Yeo added: “It is my first award in film and I am honoured. A big thank you to Anthony and all my co-actors, and everyone who made it possible.”

The NETPAC is a special award given to the best in the field of Asian cinema and to date, it has been given at 28 international film festivals in 21 countries.

“The NETPAC award really puts the spotlight on our Asian talents and I really hope our actors who did a superb job get further recognition in the region,” Ilo Ilo producer Yuni Hadi told TODAY.