Asian New Talent Section of Golden Goblet Awards｜Celebrating 20 Years of Nurturing New Directors

On the evening of June 20, the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) hosted the award ceremony for the Asian New Talent section of Golden Goblet Awards. The Chinese film FRIDAY, FUNFAIR won the Best Film Award. Indian director Abhilash Sharma received the Best Director Award for IN THE NAME OF FIRE, with the film's lead actor, Satya Ranjan, winning Best Actor. Jayashri, the lead actress of BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER, was honored with the Best Actress Award. The Chinese films FISHBONE and HABITAT won the Best Script Writer and Best Cinematographer awards, respectively.

Finding the "Pearl" Amidst Debate and Disagreement

This year, the Asian New Talent unit received 314 submissions from 25 countries and regions across Asia, with 182 of these being world premieres, making up 60% of the total entries. Chinese films led the submissions with 121 entries, accounting for 38%, showcasing the vibrant growth of new talent in China's film industry. Ultimately, all 11 films that were among the final shortlist were world premieres, including six from China and five outstanding films from countries like India, Kazakhstan, and Iran.

At the award ceremony, the jury president of this year's Asian New Talent section, Cao Baoping, candidly shared that the selection process was extremely challenging. The jury members went through intense discussions and debates before finally discovering the "pearl". "The value of the Asian New Talent unit lies in showcasing the creative differences among new directors from various Asian countries. The diverse cultures, backgrounds, and creative approaches allow for mutual learning and integration," he remarked.

In the end, Zeng Zhi's directorial debut, FRIDAY, FUNFAIR, won the Best Film Award. This film, which focuses on the survival struggles of middle-aged women, was previously shortlisted in the 2023 SIFF PROJECT "Best WIP Project" section. As Zeng Zhi accepted the trophy from Jury President Cao Baoping and Japanese director Shunji Iwai, he immediately reported to his concerned mother, saying, "I'm in Shanghai today, but I'll be back in Beijing in a few days. Thank you to everyone who loves me and whom I love." According to Zeng Zhi, the film tells a relatively light and compact story. When an orderly life suddenly goes “off track”, the protagonist teeters on the brink of emotional collapse. The promise of taking her daughter to the funfair every Friday is the only thing that pulls her back to reality, ultimately leading to a woman's journey of self-redemption.

New Talents Charting Their Paths Forward After Winning Awards

IN THE NAME OF FIRE, directed by Indian filmmaker Abhilash Sharma, is his second feature film. The film uses black-and-white imagery to depict the despairing lives of India's lower class but leaves a glimmer of hope in its final scene. Abhilash, who won the Best Director Award, shared, "Before coming to the Shanghai International Film Festival, I didn't even have the budget to organize screenings. But seeing so many audiences here in Shanghai, queuing up and applauding the film, it feels amazing. I'm thrilled to be here."

Satya Ranjan won the Best Actor Award for his outstanding performance in IN THE NAME OF FIRE. Standing on the stage, Satya repeatedly exclaimed, "I can't believe it," and expressed his gratitude in Chinese, saying, "Thank you, Shanghai." Although Satya took home the Best Actor Award, his story has a poignant backdrop. "In March of this year, I lost my child. Winning this award now feels like a form of compensation from God," he revealed.

"Her delicate performance and deeply felt emotions show us that despite facing much discrimination and hostility on the path to growth, she did not succumb. Her portrayal makes us realize that some conditions may not be flaws, but unique characteristics." Jayashri, the lead actress of BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER, won the Best Actress Award for her outstanding depiction of a brave, optimistic girl with albinism. The film is adapted from the award-winning autobiographical novel by female author Sonia S., who also wrote the screenplay and accepted the trophy on behalf of the absent Jayashri.

Chinese films HABITAT and FISHBONE won the Best Cinematographer and Best Script Writer awards, respectively. When accepting the award, cinematographer Huang Shaohui of HABITAT was so overwhelmed that he requested, "Please give me a moment." He later said in an interview, "Winning this award proves that my direction is correct, and I can continue moving forward." Best Script Writer winner Zhang Xuyu expressed his surprise, recalling countless difficult afternoons writing in cafes, "I'm glad I persevered and wrote the script word by word. I will keep writing and filming."

Nurturing New Talent: The Mission and Responsibility of the Asian New Talent 

Since its inception in 2004, the Asian New Talent section of the Golden Goblet Award at SIFF has celebrated its 20th anniversary. Over the years, the Competition has been dedicated to discovering and nurturing new talents and works, supporting the emerging film forces in Asia. It has unearthed and introduced many newcomers who are now active in the film industry across various countries and even globally, making the vision of a vibrant and expansive Asian film industry a reality.

Notably, the award ceremony included a special segment dedicated to commemorating the late esteemed film scholars and directors, such as David Bordwell, Pema Tseden, and He Ping, who all served as judges for the Asian New Talent Competition. This tribute symbolizes both respect and the passing of the torch. As Cao Baoping remarked, "Creativity, uniqueness, and a sense of unfamiliarity—these invaluable qualities are what we hope to see in new talents." This ethos reflects the value of SIFF's nurturing system for emerging filmmakers and underscores the mission of a responsible film festival.

Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of Shanghai Municipal Committee of CPC and Director of the Shanghai Civilization Office, PAN Min, expressed at the ceremony the hope that the Asian New Talent section at SIFF will harness the spotlight effect, "casting a beam of light on young directors, and continuing to foster the exchange of new filmmakers across Asia with a keen perspective, so as to promote the flourishing development of the Asian film industry". 

View the Winners List