Washington, March 16 -- Taiwanese director Julian Chou's 'Blind Love', a drama about a sensitive teenager who discovers his mother's secret affair with a mysterious woman, won the top prize at the 7th Joburg Film Festival.

Chou's sophomore feature, which premiered in the Tiger competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, won the jury's praise for its "fearless and brave voice whose point of view is necessary," reported Variety.

In a pre-recorded video message, Chou said she was "honored and humbled" to receive the festival's top prize and paid tribute to her fellow filmmakers whose "incredible work has brought such special energy and inspiration to the world." The director added that she would "keep working harder to turn t...