Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 672 The End
After a long and enthusiastic round of applause.

Following closely behind is the "Wolpione Trophy - Best Actor Award".
This award is quite interesting. Although George Clooney also directed and starred in the film, he has privately revealed to familiar American media outlets that his team did not receive any indication of winning the award from the organizing committee.

He didn't choose to leave early only because "March 15th" was the opening film of this year's festival and some of his old friends were on the jury.

However, in this year's main competition, there is another director who also stars in the film, and he is a top international young director.

In an instant, many people at the scene turned their gazes toward Wu Chen.

Even the international journalists in the media section all turned their cameras toward him.

"Could it be Wu? If the Best Actor award goes to Wu, the buzz will be huge!"

"If it's purely about generating buzz, Venice certainly has that reason. However, the subject matter of his heartwarming film isn't particularly appealing when it comes to competing for acting awards. Personally, I don't think his chances are very high."

At this point, even people in the Chinese-speaking media region couldn't help but start discussing it.

"Is there even a chance? If we get this, the whole country will explode!"

"The first mainland Chinese director to win Best Actor awards at all three major European film festivals! Zhang Yimou's Tokyo Film Festival Best Actor award seems to have lost its prestige."

"Look, it's good to have ideas, but we also need to see what the judging criteria are for this year's Venice jury!"

Sensing the tense atmosphere around her, Liu Yifei gently tickled Wu Chen's palm with her fingertip under her seat.

"How are you? Are you nervous?" she asked softly.

"It's alright," Wu Chen smiled slightly and said frankly, "Whether I take it or not is up to me."

His performance in the movie was more of a natural, understated acting style.

He knew very well that compared to Michael Fassbender's life-burning, extreme performance in "Shame," he was indeed not good enough to win the Best Actor award.

as predicted.

"Shame" by Michael Fassbine.

As the presenter finished speaking, the entire audience gave the German-Irish actor the loudest applause.

His genuine and sincere performance in the film, as well as the enormous sacrifices he made for art, ultimately won the unanimous approval of the judges.

"Oh, what a pity, what a pity."

"As expected, we were overthinking it. Director Wu's role is indeed not very advantageous. But it's okay, Director Wu has other opportunities for major awards!"

"."

In the domestic media section, they sighed quietly, but their hands didn't slow down; they all took a flurry of photos of the newly crowned Venice Film Festival Best Actor.

As Michael Fassbender walked off the stage, the awards ceremony finally reached its climax.

The next award is the Jury Grand Prize.

When Roman Polanski's name was read out because of "Carnage," the entire audience erupted in cheers once again.

This master filmmaker, for well-known reasons, was unable to take the stage in person.
His crew went on stage and accepted the honor on his behalf.

Now, only the last two most important awards remain to be presented on stage.

Silver Lion for Best Director, and Golden Lion for Best Film.

The atmosphere at the scene became extremely tense at this moment.

For a director, both of these awards represent the highest level of recognition.

The Golden Lion Award is the highest accolade for a film's overall artistic achievement, and the director is undoubtedly the soul of the work.

The Silver Lion Award, on the other hand, is the purest crowning to the director himself, recognizing his talent and skill in controlling light and shadow and orchestrating the overall narrative.

The award presenter was Sofia Coppola, the winner of the previous year's Golden Lion Award.

She walked onto the stage wearing an elegant black dress.

"I feel very honored to be standing here and to present this award, which represents the highest honor for directors."

Her voice, transmitted clearly through the microphone, resounded throughout the hall: "Every film shortlisted for the main competition is created by the best filmmakers of this era."

But tonight, the Silver Lion for Best Director will only belong to one of them.

She opened the envelope, glanced at the name on it, and a knowing smile appeared on her lips.

Silver Lion Award for Best Director

She paused, her gaze slowly sweeping across the faces of several popular candidates in the audience.

"Wu Chen, The Warmest Thirty Days of My Life"

The moment Wu Chen's name was announced, Liu Yifei and Li Qin burst into an uncontrollable cheer!

"Director! It's you! It's you!" Li Qin exclaimed excitedly.

Liu Yifei immediately turned around and hugged Wu Chen tightly. "Hehe, it's your turn to receive the award."

Her voice carried an undisguised pride and joy.

Not far away, the cast and crew of "A Simple Life," including Andy Lau and Ann Hui, also stood up and applauded in Wu Chen's direction to congratulate him.

Congratulations, Director Wu!

"congratulate!"

"Thank you!" Wu Chen smiled, nodded to them, then released Liu Yifei, stood up, and walked towards the stage.

"Phew, Best Director? I was hoping Wu Chen would win a Golden Lion."

"Hey, you know what! Does this mean Director Wu is only missing the Best Director award at Cannes to complete the 'Grand Slam' of Best Director awards at the three major European film festivals?"

In the media area, someone suddenly made a comment.

As soon as these words came out, everyone was stunned.

"It seems to be true!"

"Alas, what a pity! Director Wu's two Cannes award-winning films unfortunately missed out on the Best Director award!"

"I remember, historically, it seems that only a handful of people were able to accomplish this."

"No, it seems no one has ever achieved the Best Director award. There's only the Grand Slam of the three major film awards. If Director Wu really wins them all, then he won't just be the number one in Chinese-language cinema, but he'll be the number one in the world!"

"."

While everyone was still discussing it, Wu Chen had already taken the heavy Silver Lion trophy from Sofia Coppola and stood under the spotlight.

The entire cinema fell silent, awaiting his acceptance speech.

"Thank you, Grazie!"

He first expressed his gratitude in fluent Chinese, and then paid tribute to the Venice Film Festival in fluent Italian.

"My Italian is pretty standard, I think? Well, I really don't know anything else."

A well-timed self-deprecating remark immediately drew good-natured laughter and applause from the audience.

Thank you to the judging panel.

Wu Chen's gaze swept across the audience.

"After the film premiere, some media asked me why I, a director who is used to making suspense and science fiction films, would suddenly want to make such a simple and pure love movie."

"I think it's because we are living in an era that is too complex and too noisy."

We are surrounded by a deluge of information every day and caught up in all sorts of anxieties. We are always chasing the future, or regretting the past.

Yet often, we forget to feel and cherish each and every ordinary moment we are experiencing.

"So, I want to make a movie. A movie about 'living in the moment.' A movie that will make people want to give their loved ones and their parents a hug after watching it."

He paused here, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall before landing precisely on the girl in the red dress who was smiling at him.

"This film is a letter to time. But at the same time, it is also a belated love letter that I wrote to my leading lady."

"Many media outlets say that I am very good at photographing her. But what they don't know is that it was she who taught me how to discover the beauty in life and how to cherish every seemingly ordinary yet incredibly warm moment."

"Therefore, this award belongs to us, it's a memento for us."

When Wu Chen finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in applause that was even more enthusiastic than ever before!

Countless flashes went off at that moment.

The camera switched back and forth between Wu Chen on stage and Liu Yifei in the audience, who was already crying tears of joy.

"Wow"

Li Qin opened her big eyes and sensed the atmosphere.

Most media outlets and viewers probably just saw it as a romantic, textbook-perfect acceptance speech.

However, at this moment, only Liu Yifei herself truly understood the meaning of Wu Chen's last words.

"commemorate".

From the very beginning, this movie was a souvenir that Wu Chen prepared for their upcoming engagement.

It wasn't for awards or box office success; it was simply a gift he gave her, meticulously crafted with light, shadow, and time.

Watching Wu Chen raise the trophy towards her, in that instant, like the September wind violently battering the lawn, the happiest flower bloomed in her heart.
The awards ceremony concluded with the Golden Lion award being presented to Russian director Alexander Sokolov for his film "Faust".
With this, the 68th Venice Film Festival has officially come to a close.

(End of this chapter)