Huayu Entertainment: You have been directing for three generations, are you comparing your qualifica

The West advocates democracy, and the film festival chairman plus the judges have a total of 7 votes.

Under normal circumstances, each person has one vote, and there will be no duplicate votes; the minority submits to the majority.

However, if two films have similar numbers of votes, or if the jury president particularly likes a certain film.

Then the so-called democracy will become a mere formality, and the chairman can control the vote count.

Extreme situations have also occurred, with the judging panel becoming a dictator and deciding the winner of the grand prize with a single word.

Zhang Yimou's decision to tear up the Golden Lion for Li An has been met with considerable controversy.

The most typical example is Quentin Tarantino. When Tian Xiaole first competed for an award with "The Coffin in the Mountain," Tarantino awarded the Palme d'Or to "Chinese 9/11," which was full of political connotations.

Tian Xiaole didn't go to the Venice Film Festival in September, but chose Berlin instead. The most important reason is that Quentin Tarantino is the jury president this time.

Among the directors who applied for this year's competition was his ex-girlfriend.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will once again choose his ex-girlfriend Sofia to receive the Golden Lion Award, demonstrating his loyalty to her.

Of course, she also has another identity: she is the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola, the director of "The Godfather".

This director's status in Hollywood is equivalent to that of Tian Zhuangzhuang in China.

Quentin is a good person to get along with. He even took Tian Xiaole to get a facial in America and tried to win him over for Focus Features. Unfortunately, the two haven't had much contact since returning to China.

·······
Tian Xiaole and Yu Nan parted ways, promising to have a good get-together after returning to China.

Choosing a screening area with many people and distractions is to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Regardless, Yu Nan was one of the judges.

After everyone left, Tang Yan finally realized, "Brother Le, the information Yu Nan gave us suggests we have a very good chance of winning the Golden Bear!"

"Not necessarily. We can't rule out the possibility that other judges might try to mislead us. We need to be prepared for both possibilities."

The Berlin Film Festival is quite politically inclined, and it's rare to encounter a chairman with little political stance who enjoys films exploring human nature. This was an opportunity for "Shoplifters".

Now we need to be wary of other judges casting their votes for a particular film.

Don't say that the West isn't a society based on personal relationships. Just look at James's sycophantic behavior; it's even worse than some people in China.

·······
The Berlin local media outlet "Berliner Morgenpost" reported the news of Tian Xiaole's arrival at the Berlin Film Festival.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Berlin International Film Festival, and many award-winning directors from previous years have been invited to attend.

Among a group of renowned directors, Tian Xiaole stands out, not only for his achievements but also for his age.

"The youngest winner of the Berlin Silver Bear and the Cannes Palme d'Or, director Tian Xiaole, arrived in Berlin today and checked into his hotel."

"The Guardian's criticism of director Tian Xiaole as a traitor is utter nonsense. Before winning the Palme d'Or, director Tian Xiaole had already won the Silver Bear..." (Berliner Zeitung)

"This year, three Chinese-language films have been nominated, the most ever..."

"........."

In his hotel room, Tian Xiaole scrolled through local media reports. French media "criticized" him, while Berlin media actively defended him. How interesting.

It's a topic that naturally generates buzz.

After the opening ceremony and the premiere of "Shoplifters," you can meet with local film media for a chat.

ding dong ding dong...

It was late at night, and Tian Xiaole knew exactly who was ringing the doorbell. When she opened the door, she saw Tang Yan.

She was wearing a silk nightgown with a cartoon pattern and a towel wrapped around her head, clearly having just taken a shower.

To avoid suspicion, the two lived separately.

"Why did you come here, Zhao family mother and daughter..."

“They were already asleep, and they’re not the type to gossip.”

After saying that, she squeezed in.

Tian Xiaole closed the door and looked at Tang Yan's wiggling hips, knowing exactly what she was up to.

During this period, her belly remained flat, and whenever the two of them were alone together, it was as if the rain would rot the loquats.

"Brother Le, it's time to go to bed."

"Ah~"

In the short time it took Tian Xiaole to sigh, his pants had already been taken off.

At home, Tang Yan had to suppress her voice, but now she doesn't have to and can sing to her heart's content.

········
The next day.

Tian Xiaole led Ge You to the screening area to learn about their competitors. Other filmmakers were also observing "Shoplifters," all trying to find a way to attack their rivals.

As for Tang Yan, she was pulled away by the brand she endorses. With their own spokesperson nominated, they have no choice but to promote her well.

The Zhao mother and daughter didn't cause any trouble and mostly stayed in their room.

As the opening ceremony approaches, more and more filmmakers and tourists from all over the world are arriving.

Many Chinese filmmakers attended, including Jackie Chan's "Little Big Soldier" and Yuen Woo-ping's "True Legend," both nominated for the Generation section.

The mainland Chinese film "Climbing Over the Mountain" and the Taiwanese films "One Day" and "One Page Taipei" were shortlisted for the Youth Forum section.

After wandering around for a while, no premiere has been held yet, so there's basically no idea where to start.

At this time, the country was bustling with activity.

Zhang Ziyi is having a run of bad luck.

After being dumped by her boyfriend and then facing an ink-throwing incident upon returning to China, a netizen recently questioned the whereabouts of the deleted funds, suggesting that Zhang Ziyi had embezzled the money and had not fulfilled her promise.

This incident caused quite a stir, with netizens turning into Sherlock Holmes, launching searches to uncover the whole story.

Ultimately, it's all about prestige, putting on a show of wealth when you're not.

During an interview at the Cannes Film Festival, Zhang Ziyi claimed that her personal foundation had raised $100 million.

Subsequently, she embezzled a total of 84 yuan in two separate transactions.

It has now been discovered by netizens that she only raised $15000 at Cannes, a far cry from the amount she advertised.

In fact, if Zhang Ziyi had embezzled that million US dollars and it was exposed today, she could directly prove herself a swindler.

It's a pity, it was just one last push away.

There are far too many celebrities in the film and television industry who aren't even half as good as her.

Of course, some netizens questioned whether Cannes really only raised that many votes.

Gong Li has arrived; she's been having a lot of worries lately.

Bernard and Paramount co-produced a film called "What Women Want," an urban film.

She has been arguing with investors because of issues with the script.

She came to Tian Xiaole with a bottle of red wine and told her about her recent troubles.

After the divorce, I couldn't find anyone to confide in.

“Sister Li, if you don’t want to act in this kind of subject matter, just refuse. Why make things so complicated?”

"As an actor, I don't have the right to be willful, especially since I want to get involved with Paramount."

Gong Li is in a bad situation in Hollywood; more accurately, Chinese actors in Hollywood are generally in a bad situation.

Jackie Chan's career has declined, and even his starring role in "The Spy Next Door" didn't bring the investors much profit.

Li Lianjie returned to China to develop his career early on, and Zhang Ziyi goes without saying.

Tian Xiaole had promised to add a Chinese character for her in the sequel to "The Heist".

The first one hasn't been released yet, so we'll have to wait for the sequel.

Gong Li swirled her wine glass, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp. A few drops of bright red wine slid from the corner of her mouth and dripped onto her chest.

Tian Xiaole awkwardly looked away, glancing at the wine bottle she had brought, trying to distract herself.

An old Bentley is still a Bentley; there's nothing to criticize about it.

"Pour it for me."

"You should drink less," Tian Xiaole kindly advised, but her hands didn't stop. A bottle of red wine for two people to share would cause problems if they got drunk.

Gong Li raised her glass and looked at Tian Xiaole: "Don't forget what you promised me."

"Don't worry, I've remembered everything."

The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp. Then they started talking about the film festival.

Gong Li has served as a judging chair and judge, and has extensive experience in how to manage awards.

·······
[Shoplifters] received numerous offers from film companies, all based on the reputation that Tian Xiaole had built up.

These people only think good things.

The price difference between winning an award and not winning one can be several times, or even more than ten times.

"Tell them that the rights will be traded after the awards ceremony, and that they can be invited to watch the film's premiere."

"Okay, boss."

The 60th Berlin International Film Festival opened on the afternoon of February 11, local time in Berlin.

The cast of "Shoplifters" was placed in a later position by the authorities, which shows the prestige of the internationally renowned director.

Early in the morning, the makeup artist began applying makeup to Tang Yan. The dress and matching jewelry ordered by the brand had already been delivered, with a value of over 100 million.

Tian Xiaole and Ge You, on the other hand, were dressed in formal Zhongshan suits and chatting in the living room while the girls got ready.

Zhao Jinmai finished her makeup and styling first, wearing a pink tutu dress that made her look as delicate as a rag doll.

after an hour.

Tang Yan appeared, her makeup was light and elegant, and her retro updo cleverly outlined her delicate face shape.

Wearing a pink and white gradient off-shoulder tulle dress, her arms were fair and slender, and she wore a wave-shaped crystal necklace around her neck and crystal high heels. Her slender waist was accentuated by the dress, adding a touch of classical charm.

"Wow, Sister Tangtang, you're so beautiful!"

Zhao Jinmai exclaimed in surprise, her eyes wide open, unaware that she had just made a significant leap forward.

"Thank you, MaiMai. You're beautiful too, like a little princess."

After pinching Zhao Jinmai's cheek, Tang Yan looked at Tian Xiaole and said, seeking praise:
"Brother Le, do I look good in this outfit?"

"Yes, Not Bad."

Tian Xiaole nodded approvingly. Ge You, being a shrewd person, had witnessed their unusual relationship during filming, and praised her with a smile:
"Tangtang will definitely shine in Berlin and be the most beautiful on the red carpet in this outfit. She looks stunning."

"Uncle Ge, what you're saying is way too exaggerated."

Tang Yan didn't realize that she had changed how she addressed Ge You; she used to call her Teacher Ge.

Ge You glanced at Tian Xiaole and waved his hand with a smile.

The next moment, Gong Li appeared.

Tang Yan's youthful and lively makeup and styling are not enough to satisfy everyone.

Gong Li wore a nude-colored long gown paired with a set of high-end jewelry. Her eye makeup featured her signature full-coverage eyeliner. Although time has left its mark on her face, her confident, generous, and composed aura showcased her unique temperament.

"Wow, Sister Li, you have such a powerful presence."

Tang Yan instantly transformed into a little fangirl, stepping forward to link arms with Gong Li.

"You're pretty too, so it's a good deal for Xiao Le..."

"Ahem~

"We should get going."

Tian Xiaole interrupted Gong Li at the right moment and led the way out of the room.

Tang Yan snorted in dissatisfaction from behind.

········
This isn't Tian Xiaole's first time attending the Berlin Film Festival, and Gong Li has attended many times as well, sometimes bringing her own films and sometimes being invited by the organizers.

As the black car slowly drove up and stopped in the designated spot, media reporters from all over the world had already pointed their cameras at the vehicle.

Tian Xiaole didn't understand why they had to take a car to get here when it was only a short walk.

This is what a sense of ritual is all about!
The car door opened, and Tian Xiaole stepped out first, then helped Tang Yan out of the car.

Ge You, Gong Li, and Zhao Jinmai then joined them.

The domestic media were instantly excited, as this was the most promising film crew to win an award and the most watched film crew at this year's film festival.

Guided by staff, a group of people arrived at the waiting area, which was also filled with stars.

As soon as I entered, I saw Zhang Yimou waving, Sun Honglei was next to him, and Cheng Long at the next table was also waving.

"Xiao Le, Ali, over here."

Tian Xiaole led his people over, sat at the round table next to Zhang Yimou, turned around and nodded to Cheng Long as a response.

"Xiao Le, your film has received a lot of attention and has a good chance of winning an award."

Zhang Yimou lowered his voice and said, "As for the grand prize, that depends on how you handle public relations."

"I've made preparations, but I don't know if I'll be able to use them."

"After the opening ceremony, I will introduce you to Mr. Dieter Kosslick."

Tian Xiaole nodded. The person Zhang Yimou was talking about had served as the chairman of the Berlin Film Festival for 18 years and had praised Chinese-language films extensively.

"I'm just going through the motions this time; my chances of winning an award are slim."

Upon hearing this, Sun Honglei's small eyes were filled with disappointment.

Even winning a small award would be great, considering it's a Zhang Yimou film.

Outside the waiting area, shouts could be heard from time to time, a mixture of German and English.

······
As Jackie Chan led the director onto the red carpet, he patted Tian Xiaole on the shoulder as they passed his table.

"Director Tian, ​​remember to come and support us at the movie premiere."

"I'll definitely be there."

Tian Xiaole noticed that Wang Quan, sitting calmly not far away with the crew of the film "Reunion," did not seem to have any intention of coming up to say hello.

He sees Tian Xiaole as his biggest rival and doesn't want to lose too much in terms of momentum.

Wang Quan was quite regretful. He had been dating Yu Nan for ten years, but Yu Nan found out because he was entangled with the female lead of his new drama.

The two broke up last year.

If he had persisted until now, Yu Nan's presence as one of the judges would have been extremely advantageous for his chances of winning an award.

As for now, it's hard to say.

·······
As the red carpet drew to a close, the casts of "A Simple Noodle Story" and "Reunion" left one after another, leaving the waiting area empty.

That's the downside of going to the back; you have to wait a long time.

A staff member came over to remind them that it was time for "Shoplifters" to walk the red carpet.

"Let's go."

Tang Yan linked arms with Tian Xiaole, a happy smile on her face. She enjoyed their intimate gesture in front of the whole world.

On the red carpet, the host introduced the film crew.

"Now walking the red carpet are the main competition entries, 'Shoplifters,' directed by Tian Xiaole, and starring Gong Li, Ge You, and Tang Yan..."

Director Tian Xiaole is an old friend of Berlin, having won the Silver Bear and the Palme d'Or... Another old friend is Gong Li, who also won an award in Berlin..."

On the red carpet, the five people lined up in a row. Zhao Jinmai was led by Tian Xiaole and Tang Yan, one on each side, as they walked down the red carpet.

Puff puff……

Puff puff……

The camera flashes were constantly going off; this team had quite a strong lineup.

Domestic media, needless to say, never stopped clicking, their faces beaming with pride.

At this moment, a staff member came over and asked Gong Li to stay for two more minutes.

They even thoughtfully cleared the red carpet area so she could take photos.

"Xiao Le, you guys go first, we'll meet up with you later."

Tian Xiaole nodded. This was Gong Li's moment of glory, so of course he wouldn't stop her.

Gong Li is a frequent guest at major film festivals, boasting not only impressive awards but also a dignified Eastern charm that has won over discerning Western media.

"Sister Li has such a high status."

Tang Yan tightened her grip on Tian Xiaole's hand, her eyes sparkling. With this man around, one day they would be able to… (End of Chapter)