S'porean Chiang Wei Liang wins best new director at 61st Golden Horse Awards

Singaporean director Chiang Wei Liang has won the best new director award for the film "Mongrel" at the 61st Golden Horse Awards.

He was named best new director alongside his co-director, Yin You-qiao, reported CNA Lifestyle.

A film about illegal labour

"Mongrel" is about an illegal Thai worker who goes to work as a caregiver in the mountains.

The film is set in a Taiwanese province where illegal workers from Southeast Asia such as Vietnam and Thailand are exploited and forced to "endure their invisibility", as a Guardian review puts it.

Chiang was quoted by Taiwan News saying that he hoped the film would draw more attention to the plight of foreign workers who face challenges caring for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Previously, Chiang received the Camera d’Or Special Mention award for "Mongrel" at the Cannes Film Festival in France this year, the Straits Times reported.

2 films from Singaporean directors

The 61st Golden Horse Awards took place at the Taipei Music Centre in Taipei.

Two films from Singaporeans directors — with "Mongrel" being one of the two — secured a total of 13 nominations.

CNA Lifestyle reported that "Mongrel" was nominated for seven awards at this year's Golden Horse Awards: best leading actor, best new director, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, best cinematography, best art direction and best sound effects.

The other film, "Stranger Eyes", is directed by Chris Yeo Siew Hua and is about the mysterious disappearance of a young couple's baby daughter.

Yeo's film was nominated for six awards: best narrative feature, best director, best supporting actor, best original screenplay, best original film score and best sound effects.

Top photo from EW Films, Chiang Wei Liang/Instagram.