2020-08-01

Awards of CMC Media Focus Unit Unveiled

The awards of China Movie Channel Media Focus Unit of 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival were announced at China National Film Museum last night (July 31, 2020). Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains was conferred with the awards of film and new director of media focus; Pema Tseden was conferred with two awards of media focus as the director and scriptwriter for his film Balloon; Zhang Zifeng was titled the leading actress of media focus for her performance in Farewell, My Lad, and Renqing Dunzhu was honored as the leading actor of media focus for his My Himalayas (the film was selected as the winner of special honor together with Jamila). Actors, actresses and filmmakers such as Xu Fan, Zhao Wei, Tao Hong (Jr.), Tang Jili, Hu Mei, Tu Men, Yan Bingyan, Tao Hong, Zhang Bichen, and Wen Muye witnessed the unveiling of these honors.

Pema Tseden may become the biggest winner

Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains

This China Movie Channel Media Focus Unit attracted many domestic new films to compete for the awards. After the first round of selection, nine films were shortlisted. Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, the winner of awards of film and new director of the media focus, is the second feature by the young director Gu Xiaogang. The film tells a story of four brothers taking care of their mother, who became mentally retarded after a stroke. In the slow-rhythm film, these four families swallowed all tastes of life in various experiences of happiness and sorrow. Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, as the honorary word describes, "presents a high-quality heavenly conception through earthly stories."

Balloon

With his film Balloon, Pema Tseden became the "big winner" who received the most personal awards. Balloon tells a story of Dajie and his family, who were plagued by the hard choice between the soul and reality. How to persist in seeking oneself is not only a "practice of rules" of the heroine Dolkar, but also a self reflection of the audience. In the opinion of the jury, Pema Tseden acted as both the director and scriptwriter, and "the two kinds of artistic media echo and resonate with each other" and have performed equally brilliantly.

Newcomer joins the competing younger generation

Zhang Zifeng, a young actress who has just finished the college entrance examination, won her first ever honor as the leading role in her life, the leading actress of media focus, for her amazing performance in Farewell, My Lad. She plays a hardworking high school student, who is attacked by a sudden distressing event before the college entrance examination. Zhang Zifeng’s sincere and delicate performance perfectly depicts the extraordinary youth of a young girl, Li Fei, and deeply moves the audience and judges. Tao Hong (Jr.), an actress who co-starred with her, conferred the award on her, and encouraged her to move forward towards her dream. Zhang Youhao, the leading actor of the film, received the award of new actor of media focus as the recognition for his acting skills.

To our surprise, the award of special honor goes to two winners, My Himalayas and Jamila. The former focuses on a father and his two daughters, telling the story of their contribution to guarding the Motherland\'s borders over the decades. Renqing Dunzhu also won the award of the leading actor of media focus for his rational and restrained performance. Jamila presents the profile of a female official in a new era. She has weaknesses but tries every means to overcome them, rewards the society with gratitude and leads the people of various ethnic groups to a well-off life selflessly and fearlessly.

My Himalayas

Jamila

The young actress Deng Enxi, who has already starred in many films, was honored the title of new actress of media focus. The judges put down high hopes on her and praised her as "the newcomer now joining the competing younger generation". Deng said this was the best gift for her career growth. Reorganize and Wait for the Next Generation was the winner of both the supporting actor and actress of media focus.

Summer is the Coldest Season

Reorganize and Wait for the Next Generation

New mode of five-screen integration

This year is a very special year. Closed by the reason of the COVID-19, the cinemas across the country have been finally returning to operation successively since July 20 after 178 days of suspension. Taking the opportunity of the gradual recovery of China\'s film industry, the China Movie Channel Media Focus Unit of SIFF has opened as scheduled, symbolizing and carrying not only the desire to welcome the return of domestic films, but also the mission of advancing the film industry forward. The jury lineup and selection method of this China Movie Channel Media Focus Unit have been upgraded in an all-round way, in hopes of better performing the duties.

The jury for this year has been expanded to comprise 100 professional judges plus five special judges, who are not solely from the media sector, but also from various types of professions, such as creation, cinemas, promotion and publication and brokerage. They represent the professional voices of different segments of the film industry, and ensure the fairness and authority of the China Movie Channel Media Focus Unit quantitatively and qualitatively.

China Movie Channel Media Focus Unit this year used the "special mini program + app" as the online selection mode for the first time. The mini program and app were seamlessly connected, and the judges entered the film viewing, where they could manage the voting and viewing progress. After the voting was closed, the background immediately counted the voting results, and then automatically analyzed the data based on each result. The gender, age, professional background, film viewing experience and channel, and preferred film types of the voting judges were included and displayed as the reference for creators.

The new attempt of the five-screen convergence and cross communication constituted the biggest breakthrough this year. In addition to CCTV-6 film channel, the unveiling ceremony of the China Movie Channel Media Focus Unit was broadcast through the Internet, mobile Internet and new media terminals, which made the event more interactive and participation friendly. The ceremony was also broadcast synchronously through the screens and floor LED screens at cinemas in Beijing, Hubei and other places, connecting different cities altogether.

China Movie Channel Media Focus Unit of 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival

List of Awards

Film of Media Focus - Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains

Director of Media Focus - Pema Tseden of Balloon

Scriptwriter of Media Focus - Pema Tseden of Balloon

Leading Actor of Media Focus - Renqing Dunzhu of My Himalayas

Leading Actress of Media Focus - Zhang Zifeng of Farewell, My Lad

Supporting Actor of Media Focus - Liu Yajin of Reorganize and Wait for the Next Generation

Supporting Actress of Media Focus - Tang Xiawa of Reorganize and Wait for the Next Generation

New Director of Media Focus - Gu Xiaogang of Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains

New Actor of Media Focus - Zhang Youhao of Farewell, My Lad

New Actress of Media Focus - Deng Enxi of Summer is the Coldest Season

Special Honor of Organizing Committee - My Himalayas and Jamila