Kimura Taichi’s tender Japanese drama Fujiko took home the Golden Mulberry Audience Award at the 28th edition of the Far East Film Festival (FEFF) that came to a close on Friday night in the northern Italian city of Udine.

Fujiko, Kimura’s second feature, is a family dramedy set in 1970s and 1980s Japan and tells the story of a middle-aged single mother trying to make her way in a culture that is still struggling with the concept of women’s liberation. The film stars Yuki Katayama, Lily Franky, Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Keiko Takeshita, Kayoko Kishimoto and Issey Ogata.

Taking the 2026 Silver Mulberry, FEFF’s second most coveted audience award, was Kim Jong-woo, Kim Shin-wan and Cho Chul-young’s searing documentary, The Seoul Guardians. The film captures that surreal events of Dec. 3, 2024, when people in Seoul hit the streets to protest the stunning declaration of martial law by embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Seoul Guardians has received high praise from critics for its immersive retelling of one of the most bizarre and also uplifting moments in South Korea’s history. The Seoul Guardians shared FEFF’s Black Dragon critics prize with Fujiko.

The third place Crystal Mulberry was rather unexpectedly shared between four films — Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert by Yuen Woo-ping; My Name by Chung Ji-young; Tunnels: Sun in the Dark by Bui Thac Chuyen; and The King’s Warden by Chang Hang-jun.

Elsewhere, the jury-decided White Mulberry prize, given to the best debut film, was awarded to Unidentified Murder by Kwok Ka-hei and Jack Lee, with a special mention for The Seoul Guardians. The Mulberry for best screenplay award went to Tunnels: Sun in the Dark, with a special mention for Anthony Chen’s We Are All Strangers.

This year’s FEFF Golden Mulberry Award for Lifetime Achievement were awarded to legendary Japanese actor Koji Yakusho and hugely influential Hong Kong filmmaker and martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping. Chinese actress Fan Bingbing received the Golden Mulberry for outstanding achievement.

According to the FEFF organizers, the 2026 edition of the festival saw 75 films screened, including eight world premieres, 18 international premieres, 21 European premieres and 20 Italian premieres from 12 countries. The festival says it saw an uptick in visitors over last year, with approximately 70,000 people visiting the various FEFF screenings and events.

“We had superstars of Asian cinema and we had blockbusters. We had films that celebrate the diversity of talent the region continues to produce and we had full houses all festival long,” said FEFF president Sabrina Baracetti. “Tonight’s winner’s once again reflect the strength of Asian cinema and our dedication to celebrating and promoting these filmmakers will continue.”

The organizer’s also revealed that the dates for the 29th edition of FEFF will take place April 23 through to May 1, 2027, and the country in focus will be Hong Kong.