Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 259: Funding secured? Half of it!
Inside the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, the air seemed to tighten inch by inch as the awards progressed.

When the host announced that Julian Schaubel had won the "Best Director Award" for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

This film, adapted from a true story in France, tells the story of Jean-Dominique Bouby, who became paralyzed after a sudden vascular disease and could only communicate with the outside world by blinking his left eye. It has received high ratings from the media and audiences and can be considered quite excellent.

Julian Schaubel is quite interesting. Actually, being a painter is his profession. He was originally just a film enthusiast, and then inexplicably started making films, and now he has even won the Best Director Award at Cannes.

Wu Chen clapped as he came over, but Liu Yifei secretly turned her head to look at him and whispered, "Aren't you nervous? We've lost another award."

"You've already worried for me, so why should I be nervous?" Wu Chen chuckled and gently rubbed her palm.

"It itches, don't move around," Liu Yifei said shyly.

On stage, the Best Director award had just been announced when the Jury Award was quickly revealed.

"The Silent Sunshine."

"Persepolis!"

To everyone's surprise, the Jury Prize was awarded in a rare tie.

Liu Yifei was also stunned for a moment, and subconsciously squeezed Wu Chen's fingers.

Wu Chen looked calmly at the stage, without saying a word, his expression remaining composed.

However, the domestic media section also began to stir at this time.

"The Jury Prize, which was awarded to two 'yolks' (a special award for two winners), didn't go to 'Black Peony'. The only remaining awards are the Grand Jury Prize and the Palme d'Or, which were added this year. It feels like it's in jeopardy."

"Winning both the Palme d'Or and Best Actress is incredibly difficult; I can't even remember seeing many like it!"

"What was the last film that won both the Palme d'Or and Best Actress? How was that movie?"

"Dancer in the Dark in 2000, a musical film that destroys truth, goodness and beauty, and is about maternal love, is a natural plus. That film is different. It's a pity that three Chinese directors, Jiang Wen, Wong Kar-wai and Edward Yang, went that year and won awards, but none of them won the Palme d'Or!"

"such a pity!"

"."

At the same time, the announcement of the Jury Grand Prize also arrived as scheduled.

"Grand Jury Prize: "

"The Forest of Funerals" by Naomi Kawase

"."

"Damn, the Japanese director got it!"

"Phew, it should end with Best Actress, it's a bit of a shame!"

"."

At this moment, the entire audience erupted in applause once again, and the domestic media could only applaud while expressing their feelings.

Gong Li sighed. Under these circumstances, it seemed a bit risky unless Cannes made an exception. However, there hadn't been a case of winning both the Palme d'Or and Best Actress in recent years, which shows Cannes' current style.

Liu Yifei was biting her lower lip at this moment.

"What's wrong? Be happy you won Best Actress." Wu Chen smiled.

"You might as well not have won this Best Actress award. I'm already quite satisfied just to be here. I'd rather you win a bigger prize."

Liu Yifei looked at the winners on the stage, her applause tinged with a hint of resentment.

Wu Chen gently tucked Liu Yifei's messy hair behind her ear, chuckled softly, and then took Liu Yifei's small hand in his.

"Junior brother, you don't seem nervous at all."

Liu Yifei felt the warmth of Wu Chen's hand; it was completely dry and refreshingly gentle, making her want to hold it tightly.

"If I win, I'm lucky; if I lose, it's fate. Besides, I've already won a big prize, so I should be satisfied," Wu Chen said calmly, gesturing to Liu Yifei not to be too nervous.

"Phew, it's time for today's grand prize, the Palme d'Or!"

"Probably, but I don't think there's much hope."

"Don't say that, what if a miracle happens?"

"."

Domestic media outlets are buzzing with discussion, but many still feel the chances are slim.

At this moment, the stage lights refocused, and a spotlight shone on jury president Stephen Frears.

He slowly walked onto the stage, his face solemn, his tone low but carrying an undeniable excitement:
"On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, we have witnessed many highly creative and culturally significant works."

After discussions by the Cannes organizing committee and jury, we have decided to add a special award this year: the Cannes 60th Anniversary Special Palme d'Or.

These words shocked the entire room.

"Special Palme d'Or?"

"A special Palme d'Or for the 60th anniversary? There wasn't this award for the 50th anniversary either, that's strange."

"This is an honorary Palme d'Or? No, an honorary Palme d'Or is for life; it appeared last time for the 55th anniversary."

"This name is interesting. If I remember correctly, in the 1950s and 60s, when the Cannes Film Festival's award system was still unstable, the best film was called the Special Award for the Palme d'Or, not the Palme d'Or."

"."

At this moment, all eyes and all speculations converge on the name that has yet to be uttered.

Inside the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, the air seemed to freeze into a transparent crystal, and everyone held their breath. On stage, Stephen Frears' voice remained calm: "This award is not part of the regular jury structure; it may appear in the anniversary grand prize in the future."

The 60th Anniversary Special Award was not created out of compromise, nor was it given out of regret.

Rather, it is because our jury firmly believes that there is a work that challenges form, awakens dormant tradition, and, in the most restrained yet most shocking way, merges aesthetics and psychological abyss into a revolution in cinematic language.

In remembrance of the complexity of cinema, and in remembrance of voices that transcend language, culture, and identity.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the row of seats occupied by the film crew, a slight smile playing on his lips:
"We have decided to award a special honor, the Cannes 60th Anniversary Special Palme d'Or, to 'Black Peony'."

A brief silence fell over the entire room.

Immediately afterwards, applause erupted like a flood!
At this moment, a true uproar swept through the entire theater.

Liu Yifei was stunned. Her mouth was slightly open and her eyes were wide open, as if she doubted that she had heard correctly.

Wu Chen simply smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "You see, miracles can still happen."

Liu Yifei suddenly turned her head, hugged Wu Chen tightly, and screamed softly, "We really won the award!"

Meanwhile, the media area was in complete chaos:

"Holy crap!! Black Peony won an award?! Can miracles really happen?"

"What does this mean?! The Cannes Film Festival has made an exception and created an award?!"

"No, this should be a 60th anniversary special edition. But it is indeed special. It deserves the name 'Special Award.' Even a 'Special Palme d'Or' is still a Palme d'Or, isn't it?"

"It feels like it's actually to make up for lost time, since it's a big anniversary. Otherwise, it might have been a Palme d'Or and Best Actress award. But an anniversary prize is pretty cool too. The Palme d'Or comes every year, but this kind of commemorative edition might only appear once every five or ten years."

"."

"What's this special edition like?" Zhao Tao couldn't help but ask Jia Zhangke.

I'm not sure.

Jia Zhangke shook his head. He was from the cornerstone unit and didn't know much about the main competition unit and the organizing committee's arrangements, but the trophies on the stands looked pretty much the same.

Wu Chen stood up and straightened his suit. Liu Yifei patted his shoulder while biting her lip and laughing, "I went up first, now it's your turn. Remember to smile nicely, I'll take a lot of pictures of you."

"We dare not disobey the orders of the movie queen!" Liu Yifei smiled charmingly upon hearing this.

Amidst the flashing lights of countless cameras, Wu Chen slowly walked towards the stage.

At that moment, thunderous applause erupted in the Lumiere Hall, and the flashes of light created a silent avalanche.

Stephen Frears has already handed the trophy to Wu Chen: "Congratulations!"

"Thank you!"

Wu Chen accepted the trophy, lowered his head slightly, then looked up at the third row of the audience.

There, Liu Yifei was looking at him nervously and excitedly, her face flushed and an uncontrollable smile on her lips.

He coughed lightly, took half a step closer to the microphone, and spoke in a gentle tone, his first words eliciting a burst of laughter from the entire audience:

"First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Cannes Film Festival organizing committee. Because..."

He paused deliberately, his gaze shifting, and he pointed to the trophy with a smile, "You guys finally seem to have some funding this year."

Last year I complained that the organizing committee might not have enough funds to give me a pure gold palm leaf, but this time they not only gave me a gold one, but it was also studded with pink diamonds. Looks like they have plenty of money!

"Hahaha"

The audience burst into laughter, and even Gong Li, Maggie Cheung, and others in the audience couldn't help but raise their hands to lightly cover their red lips.

"But I have to complain again!" Wu Chen said, feigning seriousness. "Isn't it a bit too late to announce the grand prize second to last this time?"

He glanced at Liu Yifei's still-smiling face, his voice softening slightly:

"How could you possibly let such a beautiful lady speak before me?"
Shouldn't this be something a man should do?

As soon as he finished speaking, the audience gasped softly, then burst into laughter, which surged out of the hall like an avalanche.

"Wooo!" someone whistled.

"Too late!" shouted a French journalist. "She already spoke first!!"

As the spotlight shifted, Liu Yifei's face was already flushed. She bit her lip, her eyes brimming with joyful tears, her doe-like eyes fixed on the stage.
"It was worth the trip! It was worth the trip!"

"I knew it! If we gave Wu Chen an award, he'd definitely say something. It doesn't make sense. Luckily we got another award, otherwise it would have been really hard to get information out of him."

"I'm thinking about what to write for the title."

"."

On stage, Wu Chen's gaze lingered on Liu Yifei. He chuckled softly, his voice low yet sincere: "I know she just said that if she deserves that award, half of it belongs to me."

But I also want to say that if I deserve this award today, then half of that glory comes from her.”

At this moment, applause from the entire audience was like a tapestry woven together.

"Thank you 'Black Peony,' thank you Kunqu Opera, thank you to the jury, thank you to our partners, and thank you to my country."

Looking at Liu Yifei, whose eyes were filled with glistening tears, Liu Xiaoli smiled silently.

Her smile carried a mother's unique softness and pride, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothed out.

My daughter is at least luckier than I am.

If Liu Yifei had left herself no way out just now, then Wu Chen was in the same situation now.
(End of this chapter)