Germany’s ‘Every You Every Me’ Claims Triple Honors

German drama film “Every You Every Me” (aka “Alle Die Du Bist”) was Saturday named best film winner at the 7th edition of the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest). The festival’s prizes are known as the Golden Global Awards.

Directed by Michael Fetter Nathansky, the film about a woman trying to reconnect with her partner in a failing relationship, had its world premiere in February at the Berlinale. At MIFFEST, the film additionally earned the best actress award for Aenne Schwarz and saw Nathansky also pick up the best screenplay award.

The film, “boldly confronts the real-life challenges faced by the working class, particularly the struggles associated with monetary deficits [and] skillfully transforms these harsh realities into cinematic excellence,” said a jury statement.

Best director honors went to the duo of Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli for their film “In the Land of Brothers.” About three members of an Afghan family who are refugees in Iran, the film commended for its fearless storytelling of a globally relevant issue.

Taiwan star Wu Kang-ren received the best actor award for his performance as a mute man in Taiwan-Malaysia co-production film “Abang Adik.” Jack Tan won the best supporting actor for the same film. “Abang Adik” has been winning awards on the international festival circuit for over a year, with trophies at the Far East Film Festival (Udine), Fribourg, the First Youth Film Festival and Taiwan’s Golden Horse Film Festival. China’s You Junfen’s earned MIFFEST’s best supporting actress award for her part in “The Great Phuket.”

Tojo Xavier was honored with the best cinematography award for his work in “Rapture.” The emerging talents award went to “Betania” and Brazilian director Marcelo Botta.

As previously announced, the festival presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Asian cinema icons Christine Hakim and Kore-eda Hirokazu. In his acceptance speech, Kore-eda discussed the universal power of cinema.