SIFF closes with Iranian triumph

By Pang Li: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, June 25, 2012

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Iranian director Khosrow Masoumi smiles on stage after receiving the best feature film award at the SIFF Golden Goblet Awards ceremony held at Shanghai Grand Theater on Sunday June 24. 2012. [Photo courtesy of SIFF]

Iranian drama "Bear" was named the Best Feature Film at the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF)'s Golden Goblet Awards ceremony held at Shanghai Grand Theater in Shanghai on Sunday, the last day of this year's event.

The film, which tells the tragic tale of a returned war veteran who tries to win back his re-married ex-wife gave Iranian director Khosrow Masoumi his second win for best feature film at the festival, having first won eight years ago. He is the first director to scoop the award twice.

After accepting the trophy, Masoumi told the audience that he hoped to return to SIFF next year as a Golden Goblet jury member.

Chinese filmmakers also celebrated a successful night, claiming two wins out of the eight categories for best director and best cinematography.

The best director award went to Gao Qunshu for the cop film "Detective Hunter Zhang". This quasi-documentary revolves around a Beijing policeman and boasts of a cast of microblog celebrities who do not have any acting experience.

According to Gao, the unheralded cast is central to the film's success. "This is a special film; it features a cast of amateur actors from every walk of life," he said after receiving the award. "Its success is down to their brilliant acting and fascinating personalities."

The other Chinese winner was Shi Luan, who won best cinematography for his work on the film "Falling Flowers" about Chinese female author Xiao Hong.

Among the nights other major winners, Mexico's Ursula Pruneda was named best actress for her role as a mourning mother in "The Dream of Lu", and renowned Russian stage actor Vladas Bagdonas was named best actor for his debut film role in "The Conductor."

Meanwhile, Japan's Kenji Uchida won best screenplay for "Key of Life". The SIFF jury described his work as "well-crafted and mind-blowing."

After the closing ceremony, the film festival was officially rounded off by the screening of director Kee Yong-zoo's South Korean romance "Architecture 101."

The nine-day event featured a total of 303 domestic and foreign films at 34 theaters across Shanghai. According to the event's organizers, the festival was attended by around 300,000 people.

In addition, the festival unveiled its Chinese film classic restoration project, which put three restored all-time classics -- "Crossroad," "A Spring River Flows East" and "Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon" -- back on the big screen.

Full list of winners:

Best Feature Film: "Bear" (Iran), directed by Khosrow Masoumi

Jury Grand Prix: "For the Love of God" (Canada), directed by Micheline Lanctot

Best Director: Gao Qunshu, "Detective Hunter Zhang" (China)

Best Screenplay: Kenji Uchida, "Key of Life" (Japan)

Best Actor: Vladas Bagdonas, "The Conductor" (Russia)

Best Actress: Ursula Pruneda, "The Dream of Lu" (Mexico)

Best Cinematography: Shi Luan, "Falling Flowers" (China)

Best Music: Avshalom Caspi, "Chrysalis" (Spain)

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