The film "Go" has won one of the top prizes at the 13th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival in California, film distributor Toei Corp. said Wednesday.
"Go," directed by Isao Yukisada, is based on a story by Kazuki Kaneshiro, an award-winning writer. The film was honored with the prestigious 2002 FIPRESCI Critics Award, chosen by five jurors, officials said.
"Go" is the story of a Korean teenager in Japan who falls in love with a Japanese girl and keeps his heritage secret, afraid his girlfriend will reject him for being Korean.
Forty-two films including "Go" were submitted to the festival, considered a runup to the Academy Awards in late March, the officials said.
In all, 51 films have been entered in the foreign film section of the Academy Awards.