'The Rocket' Wins Two Awards: Best Film and Audience Award

'The Rocket,' an Australian-directed film set in rural Laos, took home the Best Narrative Feature and the Audience Award. 'The Kill Team,' a film that generated buzz for its subject matter of U.S. soldiers' crimes, was honored as the Best Documentary. And the spotlight on emerging talent shone on Sitthiphon Disamoe, who won Best Actor. He was an amateur actor who gained significant attention at this festival.

---

International Narrative Feature Best Film

'The Rocket'

Country of Production: Australia
Director: Kim Mordaunt

Will a Rocket Save a Boy's Fate?

In a small village in Laos, there was a boy ostracized by the villagers as an "unlucky harbinger of doom." One day, he meets an orphan girl and her eccentric uncle, "Purple." "Purple" is a former soldier dressed in a purple suit, who has a deep affection for Japanese sake and James Brown. The boy, having lost his home, embarks on a journey with these two friends and his family to find a new place to live, but the road is fraught with misfortune... "I am not a harbinger of doom."—To prove this to the villagers, the boy decides to take on the "Rocket Festival," said to be the most extreme and dangerous in Laos. What will become of the rocket-making? And can the boy clear his name?

---

International Narrative Feature Best Actress

Veerle Baetens
'The Broken Circle Breakdown'

Country of Production: Netherlands, Belgium
Director: Felix van Groeningen

The Couple's Only Wish—To Save Their Daughter's Life

Elise, who runs a tattoo parlor, and Didier, a banjo player in a bluegrass band, are a couple entering their seventh year together. They have a daughter named Maybelle and were at the peak of happiness. But when they learn their daughter is suffering from cancer, a crisis looms over their peaceful relationship. The illness progresses even as they argue. Reaffirming their love for each other and their daughter, they resolve to fight for their daughter's recovery. Because with love, they believe they can overcome anything.

---

Documentary Directing Award

Dan Krauss
'The Kill Team'

Country of Production: United States
Director: Dan Krauss

A Controversial Film on War Crimes

'The Kill Team,' set in Afghanistan, is a documentary based on the true story of a young U.S. soldier, Adam Winfield. He discovered a massacre committed by U.S. soldiers in the area and attempted to report it to the military. However, he, who sought justice, was accused of war crimes.

A group of U.S. soldiers stationed in southern Afghanistan targeted and killed local civilians. Since then, they became known as "The Kill Team." Adam reported their killings to military headquarters through his father, but received no response. "The Kill Team" became aware of Adam's actions and threatened him, saying, "If you report us, we'll kill you." In May 2010, "The Kill Team" planned another murder. This time, they intended to commit the act in front of Adam. Adam had two options: report them at the risk of being killed, or become one of them and ignore the deaths of civilians. Faced with this decision, Adam chose his own life. Weeks later, Adam was indicted as a murderer in a trial in Washington State. Despite being a soldier, he was convicted of murder on the grounds that he chose his own life over morality.

---

International Narrative Feature Best Actor
Sitthiphon Disamoe, 'The Rocket'
Country of Production: Australia
Director: Kim Mordaunt


International Narrative Feature Best New Director
Emmanuel Hös-Desmarres, 'Whitewash'
Country of Production: Canada
Director: Emmanuel Hös-Desmarres


Short Film Best Documentary
'Coach'
Country of Production: United States
Director: Beth Kagman