'Her Story' wins top award at Golden Rooster film festival

The romantic drama "Her Story" became the biggest winner at the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Nov. 15, taking home three awards, including best feature film.

Shao Yihui accepts the best feature film award at the closing ceremony of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Organizing Committee]

Written and directed by Shao Yihui, the Shanghai-set film follows a single mother who finds support from an unlikely neighbor. The film evolved from a planned sequel to her 2021 hit "B for Busy" into a parallel narrative that examines modern relationships through a contemporary female lens, featuring sharp and humorous commentary.

"Her Story" also earned Song Jia the best actress award and Zhong Chuxi the best supporting actress award at the 38th Golden Rooster Awards, held during the festival's closing ceremony. Director Shao expressed disbelief at receiving the honors, saying she felt deeply honored and happy.

"I will constantly remind myself to treat every word I write and every work I create with utmost care, to never waste resources, money or my own talent. I'll strive for Chinese cinema for another hundred years, and hope Chinese films keep getting better and better," she said.

This year marks the 130th anniversary of world cinema and the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema.

Directors Chen Sicheng and Dai Mo accept their best director award at the closing ceremony of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Organizing Committee]

This year's Golden Rooster Awards received 212 entries across various film genres. The jury, headed by director Zhang Yimou, announced honors for 20 award categories.

Notable wins included the war epic "The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death," which took the special jury prize. Directors Chen Sicheng and Dai Mo won best director for "Detective Chinatown 1900," while Anselm Chan and Cheng Wai-kei claimed best screenplay for "The Last Dance." Jackson Yee, 24, lead actor of "Big World," won best actor and became the youngest recipient in the category's history. Yuen Fu-wah secured best supporting actor for "The Dumpling Queen."

Director Chen said on stage, "I'm grateful to destiny for placing me in such an era, in this country and on this land, allowing me to weave the dreams of my entire life through countless film dreams."

Actors accept their best actor and supporting actor awards at the closing ceremony of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Organizing Committee]

Jackson Yee, formerly a young boy band idol, said: "I was selected to debut at 12, and this year marks exactly 12 years. I have been living under high attention and intense pressure all this time. I am honored to have entered the acting industry. The road ahead is long and challenging, and I hope to earn the sincere respect of the audience through my own efforts and work."

The animated feature "Ne Zha 2," which grossed $2.2 billion worldwide to become the highest-grossing animated film in history, won best animated feature. Italy's "There's Still Tomorrow" claimed best foreign language film.

Director Paola Cortellesi came to Xiamen to accept her award. She recalled that when she first visited China in March to promote the film, she was struck by the enthusiastic audience and thoughtful reviews. Despite the distance, she said, the connection made her feel deeply at home.

Director Paola Cortellesi speaks as she receives best foreign language film for her "There's Still Tomorrow" at the closing ceremony of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Organizing Committee]

Other awards presented included "Moonlight Sisters" for best low-to-medium budget feature film; "Wonderful Youth" for best children's film; "Double Butterfly Fan" for best opera film; "Hotline Beijing" for best documentary/science and education film; and Gao Peng's "A Long Shot" for best directorial debut.

Zhao Fei won best cinematography for "The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death," while Wang Danrong secured best sound for the same film. Han Zhong and Ma Xiaofei claimed best art direction for "Decoded." Zhai Jinyan earned best original music for "The Lychee Road," and Zhou Xinxia won best editing for "Dreaming of Mother and Home."

Filmmaker Xiao Guiyun and dubbing director Qiao Zhen receive their lifetime achievement awards at the closing ceremony of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Organizing Committee]

Additionally, renowned director Xiao Guiyun and influential dubbing director Qiao Zhen, both in their 80s, were honored with lifetime achievement awards from the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

Qiao, known for dubbing classic films like Mervyn LeRoy's "Waterloo Bridge" and Jun'ya Satô's "Manhunt" for Chinese audiences, has continued working in this field more than 20 years after retiring.

Xiao, a prominent fourth-generation Chinese director, recalled working with her husband, director Li Qiankuan, on "The Birth of New China": "We have spread the images of the Chinese people standing up from then on across the country and around the world — this is our heartfelt expression, and also our historical responsibility."

Jury members for the 38th Golden Rooster Awards appear on stage at the closing ceremony of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of the 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Organizing Committee]