Film on Lebanese single mother wins S. Korean award

A director says her award-winning movie about a Lebanese single mother in Canada depicts women's universal struggles.

Maryam Najafi's “Kayan” won the $30,000 New Currents award at the Busan International Film Festival that closed Saturday in South Korea. It is Najafi's first feature film and revolves around a woman working in a male-dominated Lebanese community in Vancouver.

Najafi holds a dual citizenship in Iran and Canada. Her film shares the award with Thai director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit's “36.”

The experimental one-hour movie uses 36 still photos to recount a relationship between a film location scout and an art director.

The award is for films from Asia and the Middle East.

The $30,000 Flash Forward award for other regions went to Czech director Zdenek Jirasky's “Flower Buds.”