Chinese Operatic Epic Wins Top Prize At Angel Film Awards in Monaco

Movies from China, Japan, Iran, Bulgaria, Chile, USA & Canada
celebrated at humanitarian film festival

Monaco Saturday 13th December 2014: For immediate release: The 12th annual Angel Film Awards, the gala evening at the Monaco International Film Festival, celebrated film makers of humanitarian non violent movies in Monaco on Saturday 6th December 2014.

Feature Film Winning Categories (key movies)

The International Premier of a film adaptation of the Chinese Kun Opera "A Dream Of Red Mansions" directed by Gong Yingtian, won the festival's top award, the Angel Trophy Award, for the film that best expresses the spirit of the festival. This is the first time a Chinese film was accorded the honour. The adaptation, selected to open the festival 4th Dec, also won Best Original Music and Best Costume Design.

The epic film is adapted from the renowned Chinese author Cao Xueqin's 18th-century epic, which is one of China's four great classical novels. Gong's adaptation was hailed by the festival jury as a sublime melding of the traditional and the modern.

Japanese drama "Summer Kyoto" scooped five awards including Best Director for Hiroshi Toda, while Iranian Drama, “Everything Is Fine Here" picked up four awards including Best Feature Film award. This courageous movie, shot in just two weeks and in secrecy, deals with Iranian society's reaction towards the plight of a rape victim.

The Bulgarian dramatic comedy "Living Legends" also won four awards including Best Ensemble Cast.

2014 Short Film Winning Categories (key movies)

The seasonal drama "My Christmas Wish" (USA) scooped five awards including Best Director for James Tumminia, and US short "Binky" picked up two awards, including Best Actress for Lucy Jenner,.

The Chilean production "Made Of Stone" won Best Short Movie.

The Canadian documentary "The Owen Hart Foundation - A Look Back" was honoured with four wins including Best Director for Dr. Martha Hart and the Humanitarian Angel Award.

The 2014 jury was helmed by the Italian actress, producer and film preservation activist Zeudi Araya Cristaldi; Italian/American actress Yvonne Scio; British author & life coach Carole Ann Rice; Lebanese actress Lamitta Frangieh; Korean director Eun Oh and American producer Rebecca Tranter.

For a full breakdown of awards, visit the Angel Film Awards website: http://www.angelfilmawards.org