Deng Ke's entry to the China Film Pitch and Catch (CFPC) competition, The Hero of My Grandfather, was decreed the Most Creative Project at last night's closing ceremony of the SIFF Project.
The film project tells the story of three war veterans fighting over the new location for a tombstone when it has to be moved.
Deng, 27, is the youngest of eight directors participating in CFPC and his film project's producer, Fang Fangfang, is 23 years old.
"I think our biggest advantage is that we can fail. When we fail, we can get up and persist," Deng said.
The award for Most Promising Project to Invest went to Co-production Film Pitch and Catch (Co-FPC) project The Dragon Angel from director Ning Ying. Ning has a wealth of filmmaking experience, her 2002 film Railroad of Hope taking first prize at the Cinema du Reel in Paris.
"I think for a director, every film is a big challenge," Ning said.
"A new journey has begun."
Three special awards were also presented last night. Lin Shuyu's Her Second Wedding won the BesTV award; Li Yang's To Kill a Demon picked up the KO award, and Zhang Meng's Tattoo received the TSFG award.
Jury president Huang Jianxin, a leading director, screenwriter and producer, chaired the SIFF Project's international judging panel of producers Gary Kurtz and Wei-jan Li.
"This year the directors are younger, the ideas are more diverse, and the investors are more passionate. I hope the event will get better in the future," Huang said.
By combining the CFPC and Co-FPC into a single brand event this year named the SIFF Project, the Shanghai International Film Festival aimed to provide better support for young Chinese film talents and international co-productions.