During the 14th Beijing International Film Festival, a seven-member jury committee will select ten of the 15 shortlisted films to be awarded with the coveted prize of the festival – the Tiantan Awards. The jurors met with the press on Saturday in Beijing.
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This year Serbian director Emir Kusturica is leading the jury for the Tiantan Awards. The other six members are Australian sound editor David White, Chinese-American actor Kris Phillips, Austrian director Jessica Hausner, Brazilian director Carlos Saldanha, Chinese actress Ma Li and Chinese actor Zhu Yilong. And here at the press conference, they’ve shared with us what they value most when deliberating.
“The main point is not to make a mistake, to lose the emotions or the primary feelings that come to us from the screen. So aesthetic and moral values are always at the center of attention for anyone who is somehow connected to art. And I think and believe that film is still an art, and we have to go this way,” said director Emir Kusturica.
Actor Zhu Yilong shares his thoughts on what makes a good performance. /CFP
Actor Zhu Yilong shares his thoughts on what makes a good performance. /CFP
Chinese actor Zhu Yilong said he hoped to see a vivid yet natural and coherent performance. “Personally I think the actors must carefully measure their performance and have a sense of proportion,” Zhu added.
The jurors also commented on the booming Chinese film market, which continues to gain momentum across genres and themes.
Actor Kris Phillips expresses his confidence in the future of the Chinese film industry. /CFP
Actor Kris Phillips expresses his confidence in the future of the Chinese film industry. /CFP
“I truly believe that Chinese cinema is now entering a golden era. There is an abundance of talent, including exceptional directors, screenwriters, and actors. Most importantly, China has a wealth of captivating stories,” actor-singer Kris Phillips said.
Brazilian director, animator and producer Carlos Saldanha concurred, adding: “I totally agree with Kris and I think that China might be going through a golden age, not only in movies but also animated films. So I have very high hopes for that. And I think China has all the technology and the talent to make that happen.”
Fifteen films from over 1,500 submissions are in the running for this year’s Tiantan Award. Among them, 12 are international films and 3 are Chinese productions. The winners will be announced at the closing ceremony of the festival on Friday April 26.