Aung Phyoe's 'Fruit Gathering' Wins Grand Prix at Karlovy Vary Film Festival

Myanmar filmmaker Aung Phyoe has made cinematic history by winning the Grand Prix – Crystal Globe for Best Film at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) for his debut feature, Fruit Gathering (Thit-thee Khu). This award, which includes a cash prize of $25,000 USD shared between the director and producers, was presented during the festival’s closing ceremony on July 11, marking a significant milestone as it is the first time a film from Myanmar has ever competed in, let alone won, the top category at this prestigious European festival.

Fruit Gathering is a 97-minute romantic drama set against the backdrop of contemporary Yangon’s industrial zone. The film explores a subtle, slow-burning same-sex relationship between two young female garment workers navigating the challenges of their grueling workdays and societal repression. The jury praised the film for its unique storytelling approach, highlighting that it begins as a lush and meditative portrait of work and friendship before morphing, unexpectedly and organically, into a harrowing drama of obsession and queer desire.

“It’s my first film, my first major festival, and my first award. I don’t have much confidence in myself, but my producers believed in me; I’d like to thank them and the entire crew.”Aung Phyoe, filmmaker

In accepting the award, Aung Phyoe expressed his humble gratitude, stating that it was his first film, his first major festival, and his first award. He mentioned that he didn’t have much confidence in himself, but his producers believed in him; he’d like to thank them and the entire crew. His film is a co-production involving Myanmar, the Czech Republic, and France, led by producers Thu Thu Shein and Thaiddhi, who also served as the film’s director of photography. The European co-producers include Czech filmmakers Vít Janeček and Michal Mocňák, along with France’s Claire Marquet.

“The film begins as a lush and meditative portrait of work and friendship before morphing, unexpectedly and organically, into a harrowing drama of obsession and queer desire.”KVIFF jury

Aung Phyoe, who has previously directed three acclaimed short films, has spent years developing Fruit Gathering. The project gained initial recognition by winning a Jury Award at the Myanmar Script Fund in 2017 and was later showcased at the 2020 Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors Co-Production platform in Switzerland.

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, founded in 1946, is one of the world’s longest-running and most revered cinema events. The 60th edition, held from July 3 to 11, featured over 130 feature-length films from around the globe. While Fruit Gathering took the top prize, notable winners included Denmark’s The Guest, which received the Special Jury Prize and Best Director award for Mads Mengel, and Swiss actress Anna Schinz, who won Best Actress for A Happy Family. The 61st edition of KVIFF is scheduled for July 2 to 10, 2027.