'Back to 1942' wins top award at Beijing film festival

By Zhang Rui: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, April 24, 2013

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Author Liu Zhenyun, actress Xu Fan, actor Zhang Guoli and producer Wang Zhongjun accept Best Film Award for "Back to 1942" on hehalf of Feng Xiaogang, during the closing ceremony for the 3rd Beijing International Film Festival in Beijing, April 23, 2013. [China.org.cn]

Feng Xiaogang's disaster epic "Back to 1942" won the award for Best Film at the inaugural Tiantan Film Award during the closing ceremony for the 3rd Beijing International Film Festival on Tuesday night.

"Back to 1942" also won Best Visual Effects. Feng Xiaogang was absent from the ceremony due to his new film project, but his producer Wang Zhongjun said, "China needs this type of seriously-themed film. The jurors are wise to give out the first ever Tiantan Best Film Award to 'Back to 1942.' I feel this film has depth and humanity; it is a universal story and dares to look back at the darkness that Chinese people have had to endure. "

"Back to 1942" leading actress Xu Fan performed a traditional Peking Opera piece together with Yu Kuizhi at the ceremony held in the Chinese National Convention Center. British soprano Sarah Brightman delivered live renditions of "Scarborough Fair" and the theme song of "Phantom of the Opera."

The Tiantan Awards, also known as the Temple of Heaven Awards, reflects the Beijing organizers' ambition to establish a globally recognized film award.

The award jury, including Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov acting as the president - who was honored at the festival with a four-film retrospective; Cameron Bailey, artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival; Ivor Benjamin, chairman of the Directors Guild of Great Britain; Geoff Brown, a well-known Australian film producer; Gu Changwei, a noted Chinese cinematographer and director; Je-gyu Kang, a famous Korean director; and Zhang Yibai, a renowned Chinese director, determined the recipients of the ten awards.

"Back to 1942" leading actress Xu Fan performs a traditional Peking Opera piece together with Yu Kuizhi during the closing ceremony for the 3rd Beijing International Film Festival in Beijing, April 23, 2013. [China.org.cn]

Fifteen entries competed for the awards. Although the film awards are mean to boost Chinese soft power in the international film industry, awkwardly all award candidates were films from 2012, going against international film festival precedents set by the likes of Cannes, which requires that films vying for awards must be new and should make their world debut at the festival itself.

The Best Director Award went to Cate Shortland for "Lore," which also won Best Cinematography, whereas Yan Bingyan won Best Actress for her powerful and emotional performance in the film "Feng Shui."

Yan Bingyan wins Best Actress for her powerful and emotional performance in the film "Feng Shui" during the closing ceremony for the 3rd Beijing International Film Festival in Beijing, April 23, 2013. [China.org.cn]

"Thank you judges, " Yan said in tears, "I love to be an actress, and now it seems I did great."

But she added, "I know I can get this award just because I'm a little bit luckier than other extraordinary fellow actresses. I'm hoping that my good luck can pass on to the Sichuan earthquake's victims and their families."

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Lushan, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province on April 20, killing at least 193 people and injuring 12,211 people so far. The 3rd Beijing Film Festival organizers rushed to change the red carpet into a blue one out of respect for the victims, and asked arriving guests to dress in either black or white. Many attending movie stars and filmmakers, including Jackie Chan, sent out their prayers.

Terence Stamp nabbed Best Actor for "Song for Marion," which also won Best Screenplay for its director Paul Andrew Williams at the gala.

Armenian production "If Only Everyone" won Best Supporting Actor for Vahagn Simonyan and Best Music. Helena Bonham Carter, who wasn't present at the ceremony, was crowned Best Supporting Actress for her role in Mike Newell's "Great Expectations," and Canadian-French co-production "Inch' Allah" was given the special jury award.

More than 300 well known filmmakers and movie stars including Luc Besson, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, John Woo, Keanu Reeves, Andy Lau, Jay Chou and Aaron Kwok attended the ceremony.

The 3rd Beijing Film Festival lasted for a week and screened 260 films across various Beijing theaters, many of which were in fact a first screening for China since they have not been officially imported. Several other big events, like the Beijing Film Forum and Film Market and a film carnival, were also organized. Twenty-seven film projects were signed during the festival, at an estimated value of 8.731 billion yuan (US$1.412 billion), a 65 percent increase from last year.

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