Film "Rosemead" wins the Audience Award in Locarno
The American-Asian drama "Rosemead" by director Eric Lin has won the Audience Award at the Locarno Film Festival. The award was presented on Saturday during the official ceremony at the GranRex.
17.08.2025, 12:43
17.08.2025, 12:44
SDA
"For filmmakers and distributors, this award is a strong signal of international success, as recognition from the Locarno audience is often synonymous with a broad future response," the festival wrote in a statement.
The film "Rosemead", which was shown as a preview on the Piazza Grande, is a drama about a Chinese immigrant mother suffering from terminal cancer who is also fighting to protect her son, who suffers from schizophrenia. "The stories of Joe and Irene needed to be seen from the inside as they are deeply emotionally rooted," said Lin. The movie is based on a true story.
Lucy Liu was "incredible"
Actress Lucy Liu, lead actress and producer of the film, wanted to bring this story to the screen to talk about mental health. "There is so much shame associated with this topic. This movie is to remind us that we are human and that we need connections," she said in Locarno.
She explained that this role had led her to explore other dimensions of her acting. She speaks Mandarin and imitates the accent of a Chinese immigrant. "It was a real acting challenge. But it was also a way of honoring my heritage."
Lin praised the American actress' artistic performance: "She was incredible, she gave herself completely to the role," he explained. He believed that Liu drew inspiration from people she knew, particularly to mimic the physicality and gestures of the sick. "Twice we only shot one take because you couldn't ask for more, it was overwhelming," the director continued.
The next Locarno Film Festival will take place from August 5 to 15, 2026.
