The 16th Beijing International Film Festival concluded on Saturday evening, with the British film Dragonfly emerging as the biggest winner, sweeping three Tiantan Awards — the event's highest honors.

The film, which explores an unlikely friendship between an 84-year-old widow and her younger neighbor, won Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay and Best Actress. In a rare outcome, Brenda Blethyn and Andrea Riseborough shared the Best Actress prize, marking only the second time in the festival's history that the award featured co-winners.

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Blethyn, who turned 80 just weeks ago, accepted the honor from veteran Chinese actress Wu Yanshu, 87, in a moment that underscored the enduring vitality of cinema across generations. "I love the script. It was so beautifully written. I had a wonderful time in Beijing," Blethyn said, recalling her initial hesitation to take the role after finishing another project, but quickly agreed upon learning that Riseborough would join the cast.

"The themes in Dragonfly are universal. I think they'll resonate anywhere. It's wonderful how the director challenges preconceptions — how we judge people before we really know them," she later told China Daily.

Producer Marie-Elena Dyche also emphasized the power of the big-screen experience. "People often say cinema is dying, but we have to believe in its importance, power and beauty. It's a collective medium where people come together," she shared with China Daily. With the movie being shown on giant screens during the Beijing festival, Dyche described it as an "inspiring" experience, stating that it personally showed her that "cinema will not die".

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Dutch filmmaker Mike van Diem won Best Director for Our Girls, a Netherlands-Austria-Belgium co-production about two couples whose long-standing friendship unravels during a holiday in the Austrian Alps. He described receiving the award as the highlight of his week in Beijing, adding that he appreciated the opportunity for Chinese audiences to discover the film and engage in discussion.

Chinese actor Yu Hewei won Best Actor for his role in All the Good Eyes, presented by fellow actors Zhang Yi and Duan Yihong. Set in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province, the film holds personal significance for Yu, who grew up in the region.

"I know that land and the people who live there. They carry deep emotions and love. As long as a story has love, it can transcend borders, connect with audiences, and serve as a bridge," he said.

Scheduled for release on the Chinese mainland on May 23, All the Good Eyes is a crime drama told through the perspectives of three generations of men, tracing a family's changing fortunes over four decades. The film also earned Qiao Shan the Best Supporting Actor award for his role as a kettleman.

"The award came as a sudden surprise. Standing on this stage, seeing so many artists and my idols in the audience — it feels incredible," Qiao said. "After two decades as a comedy performer, being here hasn't been easy. Now I understand why everyone wants to win an award," he added teasingly.

Portuguese actress Madalena Gunha won Best Supporting Actress for the Portugal-France co-production Justa, which explores the emotional aftermath of the devastating 2017 wildfires in Portugal. At just 14, she became the youngest winner in the category in the festival's history. Overwhelmed during her first visit to Beijing, Gunha said she found the city "beautiful".

Best Cinematography went to Zhou Cong for his stunning lens in Embers, a film about a female cremator who mistakenly swaps two sets of ashes. Best Music was earned by composer Sten Sheripov for Supporting Roles, a Georgia-Estonia-Turkiye co-production that follows a once-famous star of Georgian cinema.

Outside the main competition awards, Hong Kong filmmaker and renowned action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping received the Lifetime Achievement Award. "Beijing is my father's hometown, so it feels like I am coming home too," said the 81-year-old filmmaker, with tear in his eyes. "This is the highest honor I have received in my entire career, and it will not be a full stop for me. I will keep fighting and moving forward."