Spirit Awards: 'The Farewell' wins Best Picture & Best Supporting Actress.

SPIRIT AWARDS

Director Lulu Wang accepts the Spirit Award for her film 'The Farewell.'

ASAM NEWS

The Farewell, a film headed by Chinese American director Lulu Wang and which featured an all Asian cast speaking in both Mandarin and English won best picture at the Spirit Awards Saturday night and Zhao Schuzhen, who played the grandmother in the film, won Best Supporting Actress.

Wang seemed genuinely touched by the honor and gave a heartfelt acceptance speech before an appreciative audience.

The gracious winner gave encouragement to her fellow filmmakers and had a strong message about women directors.

“You guys, you guys. Oh, my God. I was here in 2014. It was my first time at an award ceremony. I had made a first feature that didn’t go anywhere,” she said while recalling she had just won a fellowship.

“It hasn’t been that long- five, six years and now I’m up here. For all the filmmakers out there, you can do it. You can absolutely do it. There’s been a lot of conversation this year about how to improve more women to be in film or get more women into the conversation. Shadowing is great. Programs are great, but really what we really need is just the job. Just give them the freakin’ job.” Wang urged.

While Wang noted that there are "great" programs out there for aspiring women filmmakers, she continued in what the Hollywood Reporter called the best acceptance speech: "Really, what women need is just the job. Just give them the frickin' job!"

Wang continued, "Give us the money, you know, because in America, unfortunately we're not going to make a lifelong career making arthouse films supported by government funding. That's just not the country we live in. So, just give the women the jobs. Don't make them run through that many hoops."

She thanked those who took a chance on her and hired her- Executive producer Eddie Rubin, along with producers Peter Saraf, Anita Gou, Andrew Miano, Daniele Tata Melia, Chris Weitz, and Jane Zheng as well as A24 for its marketing support.

“They were invested in marketing the film as an American film, to show a different side of what an American looks like, what an American family can look like, and what an American-leading women looks like and they did.

“I have to just thank my family. I have to thank my parents, of course. My entire family, actually my Nai Nai, my grandma. I think a year ago no body would have known who Nai Nai was, now everybody’s saying Nai Nai so that’s awesome.”

Unfortunately due to travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus, Zhao could not get out of China to attend the award show in Los Angeles.

Wang accepted on behalf of the Chinese actress. Wang addressed elder Zhao as Teacher Zhao as a sign of respect during shooting.

“I know she would really love to be here even though she didn’t read the script when I first sent it to her. She was like ‘What is this about, people lying. ‘We do this all the time. What’s dramatic about this.’ She also didn’t care that much about Hollywood. We were an independent film and we didn’t care that much about Hollywood."

For 35 years, as a counterpoint to the Academy Awards which usually go to the big budget studio-backed projects, the Spirit Awards recognizes and honors top talent from throughout the world of independent film.

Views From the Edge contributed to this report.