'The Last Summer' Wins Grand Prix At Osaka Asian Expo Edition
The festival was held for the second time this year to coincide with the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai.
Chinese director Shi Renfei’s The Last Summer was awarded the Grand Prix at the Osaka Asian Film Festival EXPO 2025 - OAFF 2026, which took place during the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai in Japan.
The festival, which ran from August 29-September 7, was the second edition of the Osaka Asian Film Festival held so far this year, following its usual March edition, so that it could coincide with the Osaka Kansai Expo. There will be no edition of the festival in 2026.
The Last Summer tells the story of teenage girl who keeps her role in a fatal accident quiet in the run-up to stressful college entrance exams. The jury commented: “The script is really engaging, and the director has full control of the film, holding the audience’s attention firmly from the very first second to the last.” The Grand Prix came with a cash prize of $3,400 (JPY500,000).
Korean filmmaker Hong Sungeun was awarded the Most Promising Talent Award for Some Like It Cold, which the jury said “showcases her inventive storytelling, leaving the jury eager to witness her future works.”
Special Mentions went to Chinese director Zhu Xin for All Quiet At Sunrise and the Philippines’ Maris Racal, who played the lead role in Antoinette Jadaone’s Sunshine. The Yakushi Pearl Award for acting went to Bhutanese actress Tandin Bidha for her role in I, The Song, directed by Bhutanese filmmaker Dechen Roder.
The Japan Cuts Award, presented by the organisers of New York’s Japan Cuts festival to a title in the OAFF Indie Forum section, was presented to Miki Tanaka’s Gingerboy. Truth Or Lies from Isobe Teppei picked up the Audience Award (see below for full list of winners).
A Good Child, directed by Singaporean filmmaker Ong Kuo Sin, played as the closing film of the festival.
OSAKA ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL EXPO WINNERS:
Grand Prix (Best Picture Award): The Last Summer, dir: Shi Renfei
Most Promising Talent Award: Hong Sungeun, dir: Some Like It Cold
Special Mention: All Quiet At Sunrise, dir: Zhu Xin
Special Mention: Maris Racal, lead actress in Sunshine
Yakushi Pearl Award: Tandin Bidha, I, The Song
Japan Cuts Award: Gingerboy, dir: Miki Tanaka
Housen Short Film Award: First Summer, dir: Gayoung Heo
Special Mention: Milk Lady, dir: Sachiko Miyase
Special Mention: Blue Amber, dir: Miki Tanaka
Audience Award: Truth Or Lies, dir: Isobe Teppei
