Chinese Feature “Atlantic Rhapsody” Wins Best Film at Festival’s Golden Goblet Awards

Chinese film Atlantic Rhapsody captured the top honor—the Best Feature Film of the Main Competition—at the Saturday night Golden Goblet ceremony of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival.

Following a supermarket employee on a journey in search of memories through sounds, the film adopted a bold experimental approach to explore the absurdity of human life and offer audiences a uniquely compelling visual experience.

Director Zhong Kaifeng expressed his gratitude to the Shanghai International Film Festival for its recognition, and thanked the film crew members as well as his family for their support throughout the production. 

“I think that this award gives a definitive affirmation to my directorial career so far, proving that persistent dedication to one's beloved profession will eventually reap rewards,” Zhong said.

Another member of his production team, the cinematographer Hao Jiayue, garnered the Best Cinematography award. 

Moroccan filmmaker Yassine El Idrissi won the Best Director award for his moving film Halima, in which he masterfully weaves complex, layered, and nuanced reflections on human life and faith into the daily life of an elderly woman.

"I would like to thank my team who believed in my crazy ideas, and I would like to thank the festival for choosing the film, as well as the jury," he said.

“The success of this film also demonstrates that we can transcend cultural boundaries to share diverse stories, all of which resonate with universal emotions.”

The film's lead actress, Khadija Amari, took home the Best Actress award for her restrained performance that effectively conveyed the surging storm within. 

In the film, her eyes alone revealed the character's resilient soul and profound history, exuding a divine, piercing presence.

Chinese actor Zhang Songwen’s superb acting in Secret in the Box earned him the Best Actor award. In the film, he precisely captures the complex layers and inner struggles of an ordinary man.

"I have always been convinced that people should dedicate themselves to one profession throughout their entire lives, take pride in their work, and constantly strive for deeper expertise," he said. "This award tonight is a powerful testament to that belief."

The Jury Grand Prix was given to Belgian film Iluminada, which revealed an authentic and deeply human story from Latin America.

Reis Çelik won the Best Screenplay award for the film Night of Blindness, jointly produced by Turkey and Germany, which took the audience through the impacts of small acts of bravery in the course of a single night.

The Miserable Mother, a co-production between Germany and France, received the Outstanding Artistic Achievement award. Director Susanne Heinrich admitted that she knew it would not be easy for the film to win everyone over, and expressed her sincere gratitude for the audience's positive reception.

In the Asian New Talent category, Chinese film Her First Taste, directed by Gong Yiwen, won the Best Film award, and the Best Actress award was presented to its lead actress Ma Fufu for her outstanding performance.

Thai film 9 Temples to Heaven garnered two awards, with its director Sompot Chidgasornpongse winning Best Director, and lead actor Sompop Songkampol taking home the Best Actor prize.

Ridham Janve garnered the Best Scriptwriter award for Indo-German co-production Hunter’s Moon. 

Cinematographer Samiul Karim Shuptak earned the Best Cinematography award for the striking visuals he created in The Blind Girl and an Elephant.

The Best Documentary Film honor went to the Chinese production Notes Unheard.

Lucy Lost, adapted from the original work of renowned British children's literature author Michael Morpurgo, secured the prize for Best Animation Film.

In the short film section, the Best Live Action Short Film award was conferred upon Canadian film Sitting Bird, while Belgian production If Only took the Best Animated Short Film title.