2020-03-17

SIFF ASIA x World Express | TO LIVE TO SING Awarded at Macau International Film Festival

On the evening of December 10, the Awards Ceremony of the 4th International Film Festival & Awards Macao (IFFAM) was staged at the Macao Cultural Centre. On the occasion, TO LIVE TO SING was awarded Best Screenplay at the competition section “New Chinese Cinema”, and NETPAC Award. The film was also the winner of Asian New Talent Award for Best Film at the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). Another film recommended by SIFF, FLOWERS OF SHANGHAI (4K restoration version) was also specially screened in Macao that night, and was warmly welcomed by local audiences.

TO LIVE TO SING Awarded Best Screenplay at New Chinese Cinema

Co-organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Macao Films & Television Productions and Culture Association (MFTPA), IFFAM provides an exchange platform for international filmmakers. Its 4th edition was held from December 5 to 10, with three competition units and seven non-competition units, screening 50 feature films and 6 short films from home and abroad. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to China, this year IFFMA has also planned the 20th Anniversary Macao Special Presentations, where a number of local films were screened in non-competition form to showcase the diverse cultural and creative industries in the city.

On December 8, upon the recommendation by SIFF, the movie TO LIVE TO SING was screened in the local Old Court Building as candidate for the competition unit New Chinese Cinema. The film director Johnny MA, together with leading actresses ZHAO Xiaoli and GAN Guidan, attended the pre-screening meeting to share the creation intention and behind-the-scenes stories with the audience. Also the crew patiently answered the audience\'s questions about the plot and shooting of the film. At the 22nd SIFF held in June this year, TO LIVE TO SING was honored Asian New Talent Award for Best Film, and its leading actress ZHAO Xiaoli also won the same award for Best Actress.

Director Johnny MA, Actresses ZHAO Xiaoli and GAN Guidan at Pre-screening Meeting

On December 10, the 4K restored version of the film FLOWERS OF SHANGHAI embarked on the SIFF ASIA x World Express and visited Macao. At the Cinematheque・Passion, the revived film met with the local viewers.

"The Shanghai International Film Festival has always been a professional platform for global filmmakers to have conversation and for audiences to enjoy films from all over the world. And we also hope to promote more Chinese classics to the international stage,” said WANG Ye, Deputy Managing Director of Shanghai International Film & TV Festival Center. “At the invitation of IFFAM this year, we are pleased to bring the new 4K restored version of the film FLOWERS OF SHANGHAI to Macao. Hope Macao audiences like this classic Shanghai-style film."

WANG Ye, Deputy Managing Director of Shanghai International Film & TV Festival Center at Pre-screening Address

Based on the novel The Sing-song Girls of Shanghai written in Wu dialect, FLOWERS OF SHANGHAI is the only Shanghai-themed work directed by Hsiao-hsien HOU. It was also the No.1 among the 10 films chosen annually by the critics of Cahiers du Cinéma in 1998. This June, its 4K restored version – jointly presented by SIFF and Jaeger-LeCoultre, had the world premiere during the 22nd SIFF, which became an instant hit among the viewers. In October of this year, FLOWERS OF SHANGHAI was invited to Lyon, France, joining the film restoration sector of the 11th Lumiere Film Festival, which also drew wide attention from local audiences and European filmmakers.

Still from FLOWERS OF SHANGHAI

This year marks the third year of the partnership between SIFF and IFFAM on World Express. Back in 2017, SIFF introduced SHUTTLE LIFE, winner of Best Film, Best Cinematographer, and Best Actor of Asian New Talent Awards at the 20th SIFF, to Macao for special screening. In 2018, the nominee for the Golden Goblet Awards at the 21st SIFF LOST, FOUND was screened in Macao, together with GAME OF IDENTITY, finalist for SIFF Project in the same year.

TO LIVE TO SING’s award winning in Macao marks the latest achievement bred by SIFF ASIA x World Express. In June this year, SIFF launched the "SIFF ASIA" framework to promote the exchange and mutual learning of cinema cultures across Asia by means of screening, awarding, salons and more. As an organic part of the framework, SIFF ASIA x World Express has become a bridge for cultural exchanges and connection between Asian countries. This time the Express travelled to Macao, allowing local audiences and filmmakers to appreciate the charm of Chinese cinema. As a fruitful attempt to expand the "SIFF ASIA" framework and promote close film collaboration across Asia, it further highlighted SIFF’s positioning of "based on Asia, paying attention to Chinese and supporting new talents".