Locarno78: Rosemead, Directed by Eric Lin and Starring Lucy
Liu, Awarded the Prix du Public UBS
The bold American independent drama directed by Eric Lin – produced by and starring Lucy Liu, recipient of Locarno78’s Career Achievement Award – won the hearts of the thousands of spectators in the Piazza Grande, marking 25 years of the audience award in partnership with UBS.
The list of the Locarno78 Palmarès, announced in the afternoon on Saturday 16 August at the official ceremony in GranRex, is now complete, with the awarding of the Prix du Public UBS, done in collaboration with the Festival’s Main Partner. After 11 nights of cinema in one of the world’s largest outdoor screen, the Locarno public crowned their winner: the Asian-American drama Rosemead would take home the Prix du Public UBS on its 25th anniversary.
For filmmakers and distributors, winning the recognition of such a large audience at the Festival is an unmistakable sign that the film will have little difficulty connecting with international audiences in the future. “After years as a cinematographer, I knew how difficult it was to direct a good film. The experience helped me understand that the stories of Joe and Irene must have been very emotionally rooted. We had to see the film from the inside,” director Eric Lin told Pardo, the Festival’s daily magazine. Of Liu’s fearless performance, he added, “She was incredible, she gave herself completely to the role [...]. I think she was inspired by people she really knew, especially to replicate the physicality and gestures of those who are sick. A couple of times we only did one take because you couldn't ask for more, it was so moving.”
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