Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 662 Memorable Scene: Directors from Three Regions on Stage Together
Shortly after Marco Müller left Beijing, the 68th Venice International Film Festival officially announced its first batch of nominees through its official website and major news agencies around the world.

Unlike the embarrassing situation in May this year when no Chinese-language films were nominated at the Cannes Film Festival, Chinese-language films have shone brightly in this year's Venice Film Festival.

"March 15th" (USA);

Wuthering Heights (UK)
The Warmest Thirty Days of My Life (China)

A Simple Life (Hong Kong)

Seediq Bale (China's Treasure Island)

"

The moment this news was announced, the entire Chinese-language film industry was in an uproar.

They've been nominated! And three of them are!
It just so happens that it represents the strength of Chinese-language films from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

"Wow! This year's Venice Film Festival is generating way too much buzz!"

"Ann Hui, Wei Te-sheng, Wu Chen... Tsk tsk, I never thought that these three would one day be able to compete on the same stage, and in the main competition unit of the three major European competitions."

"This has really raised our expectations to the max! Three Chinese-language films, they have to bring home at least one award!"

Numerous media outlets are already eagerly adding fuel to the fire for this upcoming "water city extravaganza."

[A banner year for Chinese-language films! Wu Chen, Ann Hui, and Wei Te-sheng join forces at Venice to compete for the Golden Lion!]

Directors from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong gather in Venice! Is the 68th Venice Film Festival becoming a home ground for Chinese-language films?

[Wu Chen's new film is nominated! After Berlin and Cannes, can he complete the "grand slam" of the three major European awards in Venice?]

However, the only thing that some film fans found somewhat regrettable was that Jia Zhangke served as the president of the jury for the "Horizons" section at this year's Venice Film Festival.

This means that he cannot serve as a judge in the main competition to "protect" Chinese-language films.

"I guess the Venice organizing committee also took this into consideration. After all, there are already three Chinese-language films shortlisted this year, and it would be too obvious to have Jia Zhangke as a jury member in the main competition."

"Three films, so the chances are high! This year's Venice Film Festival should be quite successful, definitely much better than Berlin and Cannes!"

The discussion is raging both inside and outside the industry.

Of course, the Beijing Film Academy was also bustling with activity.

Congratulatory calls poured in for Wu Chen and Liu Yifei.

After all, the two of them are the core creators of this film.

"Ifi, are you confident you can bring the trophy back from Venice this time?" The call was from Wang Jinsong.

"Teacher Wang, how can I be sure about that?" Liu Yifei said, both amused and exasperated.

"Oh? You weren't there when Marco Müller came to Beijing a few days ago?" Wang Jinsong asked curiously.

"Teacher! You have to stand up for me! Wu Chen won't let me go!" Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei immediately started "complaining" over the phone.

Wu Chen, who was standing nearby, laughed upon hearing this.

Liu Yifei turned her head and wrinkled her nose and waved her little fists at him, looking incredibly cute.

"Hahaha"

Wang Jinsong, on the other end of the phone, naturally didn't take it seriously. He clearly knew that the young couple was just joking around again. He smiled and hung up the phone.

Reporters from mainland China have been unable to locate Wu Chen and Liu Yifei, who have been keeping a low profile.

However, reporters from Hong Kong and Taiwan managed to catch Ann Hui and Wei Te-sheng red-handed and interview them one by one.

“I’m very happy that this film has impressed the Venice film selectors. I also hope that it can achieve something in the competition section and prove something for Hong Kong films.”

Ann Hui's answer was, as always, calm and restrained.

"All I can say is that I'll do my best. Right now, I feel both nervous and stressed," Wei Te-sheng said humbly.

Neither of them made any grand pronouncements; after all, they weren't naive or impulsive, and their answers were rather conventional.

The industry's interest remains high. Wu Chen, overwhelmed by the questions, finally agreed to a telephone interview with Sina.

"Director Wu, congratulations on your new film being selected for the main competition at the Venice Film Festival. What are your thoughts on competing alongside directors Ann Hui and Wei Te-sheng?"

"First of all, this is not a competition."

I feel incredibly honored to be able to showcase the brilliance of Chinese cinema to the world alongside such outstanding Chinese directors as Director Xu and Director Wei on the stage of Venice. I hope all three of our films will achieve great success.

"Are you confident about winning the Golden Lion?"

"Let it be. Winning an award is an affirmation of our team; not winning an award won't affect the fact that it's a good movie."

Wu Chen was very confident.

Liu Yifei, naturally, also received numerous questions from the media.

"As for trophies, it would be best to win them, but it's okay if we don't. The film itself is more important."

Liu Yifei kept her eyes fixed on Wu Chen as she answered.

The two people's responses quickly sparked a new round of heated discussions.

Many actresses are genuinely envious.

"Sigh, yet another film nominated for one of the three major European film festivals."

"I hope she doesn't win Best Actress again! It's fine to participate, but if she wins again, it's truly outrageous!"

"Different people, different fates."

At this moment, Lu Zheng, who was visiting the set of the movie "New Mom, Love Me Again" in the suburbs of Beijing, had some thoughts on the high level of interest in the film.

If Jing Tian could also star in a film and travel to Venice, the publicity and buzz would be incredible.

"Tiantian, have you sent a message to Director Wu and the others to congratulate them?"

Lu Zheng then asked Jing Tian, ​​who was standing next to him.

The latter nodded with a smile, indicating that he had already sent a congratulatory text message immediately.

"Don't worry, our movie's publicity won't be bad either." Lu Zheng said confidently, looking at Jing Tian's slightly envious gaze. "In a couple of days, I've prepared a special press conference that I guarantee will attract everyone's attention!"

Soon after, the press release for the "New Mom, Love Me Again" book went viral online.

When Wu Chen saw this report, his expression was quite strange.

The press conference was held on a lush green lawn.

The lawn was covered with white rose petals. Seats decorated with lilies and roses were everywhere, along with delicate wedding candies and a towering champagne tower. The whole scene was set up as a romantic wedding.

Lu Yi and Jing Tian were the male and female protagonists of this "wedding".

In front of the media cameras, Lu Yi knelt on one knee and proposed to his "bride" Jing Tian in a high-profile manner, presenting her with a huge "pigeon egg" diamond ring.
Lu Zheng's thought process is indeed sometimes quite unique.

Although the "wedding press conference" did generate media coverage and high levels of buzz.

But this whole thing looks way too much like a real wedding.
Wu Chen couldn't help but laugh when he looked at the news photos.

Time flies, and it's already the middle of the month.

News of the Venice Film Festival nominations still occasionally circulates online. Wu Chen's side has also sent people to officially deliver the DCP copy of "The Warmest Thirty Days of My Life" to Italy.

Meanwhile, Venice is about to announce the second batch of shortlisted candidates.
Generally, there are around twenty films in the main competition each year, roughly the same.

Just then, the biennial Huabiao Awards announced its nominations, with the awards ceremony scheduled for the 28th.
There are still a lot of nominees.

However, everyone is used to it now.

As a film award personally organized by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, anyone who is nominated will attend unless they are truly unable to attend.

Even Wu Chen, who is scheduled to arrive in Venice on the 31st of this month to attend the opening ceremony, has stated publicly that he will participate in this awards ceremony.
(End of this chapter)