Best New Director nod for Singaporean film-maker Chiang Wei Liang

Golden Horse Awards 2024

- Jan Lee

It was a joyous occasion for an international couple as Singaporean film-maker Chiang Wei Liang took home Best New Director for the film Mongrel at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan on Nov 23.

He won the award alongside his wife and co-director, Taiwanese Yin You-qiao.

Onstage, Chiang, 37, invited the film's cast and crew to stand, and asked the crowd to give them a round of applause.

He said: "I think we've created something that was very difficult to make. This film has opened up the meaning of what a Taiwanese movie is. I don't think it is possible to summarise my past 15-year journey in some 90 seconds, but the hard work of many is what got us here today."

While he has previously directed short films, Mongrel is his first feature film. The movie revolves around a migrant worker, played by Thai actor Wanlop Rungkumjad, who becomes a caregiver to the elderly and disabled in rural Taiwan.

Chiang - who is based in Taiwan - thanked his family for supporting his decision to leave home to pursue his movie-making dreams.

He also thanked Yin and said: "It is with her acceptance and love that I can not only have a path ahead of me, but also someone behind me."

Aside from Best New Director,