Japanese Actor Suzuki Ryohei, 40, bagged the Screen International Rising Star award at the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival for his sensitive performance in the gay romance ‘Egoist.’
Suzuki played the role of Kosuke, a gay man who navigates his relationship with his lover, Ryuta (played by Miyazawa Hio), and Ryuta’s single mother.
On receiving the award, Suzuki said in the awarding ceremony on July 15 that it was a “great honor to receive it, especially in New York, a city he loves.”
The Rising Star Award is a prestigious award given to the most promising actors in the world and has been awarded to several Japanese actors in the past like Sousuke Ikematsu, Nana Komatsu, and Tsuyoshi Ayano.
Suzuki also shared that while it is still difficult to come out as a gay person in Japan, society could move forward by making more sexual minority-themed movies
“I hope this movie will have a positive impact on gay people and contribute to the LGBTQ community as much as possible. I also hope it will bring some change to Japanese society and in the US, as well,” Suzuki said in an interview with NHK Japan.
