This director loves making friends.

Chapter 151 Banning

The Berlin Film Festival does not conclude all its activities after the awards ceremony.

The official procedures are almost always the same each year.

The day after the awards ceremony, all the winning films in the main competition will have two additional screenings at official designated cinemas such as the Berlin Philharmonic Hall and the Berlin Film Palace, for accredited guests and a small number of moviegoers who can purchase tickets from the public.

The Golden Bear Award-winning films will also have their creators present for a post-screening Q&A session.

As the official industry market held concurrently with the Berlin Film Festival, a final round of targeted copyright matchmaking sessions will be held from February 22nd to 24th, following the awards ceremony.

Films that haven't finalized a deal can have a final round of closed-door negotiations with global distributors.

Of course, there's no need to worry about copyright transactions for "Old Boys." Qin Keqing doesn't need to concern himself with the final closed-door negotiations over the next three days.

However, the cast and crew of "Old Boys" will still attend the encore screening and post-screening Q&A session on the second day.

Therefore, Ren Dahua, Xu Jinglei, and the others will stay in Berlin for another day before returning home.

After the post-screening Q&A session, Xu Jinglei saw Qin Keqing carrying a large stack of newspapers, including many magazines, and couldn't help but ask him about it.

After what happened last night, she didn't care what Ren Dahua and the others thought or thought, and just "moved in" into Qin Keqing's room.

"The organizing committee members brought it to me specifically."

Qin Keqing put these things down, feeling both amused and exasperated.

If it weren't for Moritz's instructions, how could someone have specially delivered so many newly published newspapers and magazines today?

Moritz is very decisive. As the president of the Berlin Film Festival, he immediately had the media with official connections to "hype" Xu Feng's interference with the normal work of the jury.

And it wasn't even based on "according to insiders—"

Instead of using the ambiguous phrase "the reporter received information from relevant sources," the reporter was directly asked to interview several members of the judging panel.

In the past, the other judges on the judging panel might have refrained from directly exposing certain "insider information" out of consideration for their feelings. However, this time, Xu Feng offended not only the judges but also all the high-ranking officials.

In addition, whether it's other jury members or film festival officials, they definitely need to find someone to take the blame for this "incident." Actually, it's not really about taking the blame; what's needed this time is the truth!

Therefore, many members of the jury, especially the jury chairman Jeremy Thomas, all gave exclusive interviews—not just regular interviews, but full-fledged interviews.

They discussed how "Old Boys" and "In the Name of the Father" were locked in a stalemate, going through several rounds of voting, yet still tied. The jury, except for...

Except for Xu Feng, everyone else agreed to award the highest prize to the two films, and that's what they said.

Yes, just as the film festival chairman Moritz said in an interview after the red carpet ceremony, because of Xu Feng's insistence, he did not agree to let the two films win awards at the same time—but Moritz said it in a praising tone, while the other jury members certainly did not have a trace of praise in their tone.

"What does it say on this?"

Xu Jinglei randomly picked up a newspaper, which was entirely in English. She found it a bit difficult to read, so she simply put it down and stopped torturing herself.

Qin Keqing picked up the newspaper and glanced at it. It was The Guardian, one of the UK's three major newspapers, with the headline on the front page: "Unusual voting curve behind the Golden Bear results: Did judge Xu Feng cross the line of independence?"

Subtitle: Exclusive Interview with Jury Chairman Jeremy Thomas: Details of the Multiple Rounds of Tug-of-War Revealed for the First Time

"—Xu Feng has no international film awards, no experience studying or teaching at any prestigious film school, and even speaks fluent English haltingly. Yet, this complete novice was able to sit on the jury of the main competition at the Berlin Film Festival and single-handedly disrupt what should have been a perfect film festival—"

Xu Jinglei clicked her tongue in amazement as she listened to Qin Keqing recount the contents of the newspaper.

"The Guardian is really something else—isn't it afraid of being sued for directly questioning someone by name? I've heard that people in Europe value reputation very much, and it's easy to infringe on someone's right to reputation."

Xu Jinglei didn't pity Xu Feng; she felt Xu Feng deserved it for trying to suppress the Golden Bear for "Old Boys," even though it was the most...

In the end, his cleverness backfired, but it was truly hateful.

She had never been abroad, and all her knowledge about Europe and America came from the media and magazines.

Knowing the Cause, Reading Digest, and Immersive Experiences —

In any case, these mainstream magazines all portray Europe and America in the best light, describing them as the most beautiful and healthy places in the world in terms of quality of life, human rights, and living environment.

"This is an exclusive interview. Besides, The Guardian is a British newspaper, and Xu Feng is now a Hong Kong resident."

Qin Keqing said casually.

Xu Jinglei blinked. Xu Feng is from Hong Kong, and The Guardian is a British newspaper. What's the connection?

She didn't quite understand.

Qin Keqing didn't say anything more, but instead watched with great interest.

It seems Moritz is truly angry; these newspapers are all reporting on this, and many of them directly mention Xu Feng's name.

In fact, Moritz's extensive media coverage and interpretation of this matter has had a certain impact on him and the Berlin Film Festival, leading many to subconsciously believe that the Berlin Film Festival's management has lost control over the festival.

However, if public opinion is not guided and this matter is reported extensively, it will give the impression that the Berlin Film Festival executives are "weak and indecisive."

They would also think that the other party is not in control and that they are being deceived.

Both for public and private reasons, Xu Feng needs to be dealt with severely.

Xu Feng will really have no chance of making it in the European and American film industry from now on.

Not only her, but even movies related to her can forget about entering the European and American film industry.

The three major European cities are constantly vying for dominance and want to crush each other. They'll seize any opportunity to kick each other while they're down. For example, with this incident in Berlin, Venice and Cannes must be secretly delighted.

However, the three major European powers have all tacitly "blacklisted" Xu Feng.

Because this touches on their taboo. What if others follow suit and hold their own film festival?

Not only in Europe and America, but also in mainland China, state-owned film studios would tacitly "blacklist" Xu Feng and her film company. As a Chinese person, it was taboo to openly contradict and attack one's own people in such an important occasion as the three major European countries.

"Brother, I'm going back to China tomorrow."

Xu Jinglei pursed her lips and placed her hand on the newspaper, preventing Qin Keqing from taking it.

Qin Keqing looked up at Xu Jinglei, and he understood what she meant.

Female literary youths are actually very easy to get along with. They don't care about your house, money, or even resources. What they want is a feeling, nothing more.

"Isn't the swelling still there?"

"I'm going back to China tomorrow," Xu Jinglei said again.

"It's not dark yet."

"I'm going back to China."

"I really can't help you."

Qin Keqing stood up, picked up Xu Jinglei, and carried her back to her room amidst her giggles.