Actress-turned-director Jiang Wenli holds the Best Asian New Talent Film award at the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival on June 18 (CRIENGLISH.COM)

Chinese actress Jiang Wenli's directorial debut Lan won the Best Asian New Talent Film award at the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival.

The heart-warming semi-autobiographical film brought the first-time director a reward of 150,000 yuan (about $22,000) as well as access to post-production facilities provided by Technicolor Bangkok.

Lan is a heart-felt drama about a young girl named Lan, who lives with her grandfather and dreams of becoming a gymnast. Jiang has said the film is a tribute to her childhood and her late grandfather.

"Director Jiang Wenli shows confidence... painting her film with colors of stunning beauty and an attention to detail that pulls us into the world of little Lan," said jury member Charlie Young while reading the jury's comments on the film at the awards ceremony Friday night.

Accepting her award, Jiang told the audience, "The day after tomorrow [June 20] is my birthday. This is the best birthday present I can think of."

The actress-turned-director was previously quoted as saying that Lan would be her first and last film because she found directing to be an exhausting job. However, she told reporters on Friday she might change her mind.

"Winning this award makes me more confident, and now that I have money (laughs), I may continue directing," she said.

Lan opened in Chinese cinemas on April 2.

Also honored at the Asian New Talent Awards were: South Korean director Jung Ki-Hoon, who was named best director for the mother-daughter movie Goodbye Mom; The Executioner, another Korean film, which won the Jury Prix; and The Pawnshop from the Philippines, which won the Students' Choice award.

The Shanghai International Film Festival introduced the Asian New Talent Awards in 2004 with an aim to discover talented directors in Asia. Previous winners include Ning Hao and Pema Tseden. The latter was on this year's jury panel which was led by South Korean director Hur Jin-Ho.

(CRIENGLISH.com June 19, 2010)