This director loves making friends.

The Cannes Film Festival awards are announced according to three principles.

First, there is strict confidentiality. The jury's voting and final decision are highly confidential. Before the official announcement at the awards ceremony, none of the nominees, including directors and actors, know whether they have won or what award they have received.

Secondly, the winners are announced on-site. All major awards, including the Palme d'Or, the Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, etc., are read out by the presenters at the closing ceremony. In fact, the winners are not known until the presenters open the envelopes.

Third, there will be no prior notification. There is no official practice of notifying or privately informing winners of the results in advance. Any claims about knowing the results in advance are mostly rumors or misinterpretations of information from unofficial channels.

Yes, at least the Cannes authorities have been emphasizing these principles.

Then, around 2 p.m. on May 24, Qin Keqing received a call from the conference service department. They didn't give any hints, but simply asked Qin Keqing if she needed a limousine to pick her up for the closing ceremony red carpet that evening.

This isn't an implication; after all, they are the service department under the Cannes Film Festival's official organizing committee, and it's only natural for them to provide good service to the film crews in the main competition.

In principle, all film crews who are willing to stay to attend the closing ceremony and awards ceremony will be provided with a limousine by the service department.

However, there are two situations: one is that the crew needs to make an appointment with the service department, and the other is that the service department will call to inquire.

Qin Keqing suddenly realized that this was probably the widely circulated rumor that he had received a phone call asking him to "stay."

Of course, the Cannes officials denied it and did not make any phone calls to reveal any information, thus not violating any principles.

Not long after, Qin Keqing received another call from Chen Kaige. Old Chen's voice trembled slightly, but his tone was somewhat impassioned.

"Director Qin, are you staying to attend the awards ceremony?"

"I'll probably stay. Since I'm already in Cannes, I definitely have to walk the closing ceremony red carpet. What about Director Chen?"

"I'll stay too."

Chen Kai replied, then, fearing that Qin Keqing was too young to understand, he added, "I was originally going to go back early, but I received a call from the service department saying that they had arranged a limousine for the crew, so I had to stay."

"Haha, then congratulations to Director Chen."

"That's just a rumor."

Chen Kaige's tone became even more enthusiastic, "Director Qin, don't be discouraged. You're still young. When I was your age, let alone being selected for Cannes, it was still many years before I could actually direct a film independently."

It's already quite remarkable that your first film is so thoughtful and evocative. If you have any questions, feel free to call me anytime.

"Okay, Director Chen, see you tonight."

See you tonight.

Qin Keqing hung up the phone and smiled. It seemed that Lao Chen must have also received the call to "stay". If there were no surprises, Lao Chen would still win the Palme d'Or and become the first person in China to receive this honor.

Judging from Lao Chen's excited tone, Qin Keqing guessed that he had probably obtained inside information from other channels, since the copyright of "Farewell My Concubine" had long been sold to ARP Film Company at a low price.

ARP Films, as a long-established French art film company, has a more complex network of connections in France than Diamond Films.

You can tell by the scale of their promotion and operation of "Farewell My Concubine".

"It seems that Lao Chen definitely doesn't know that I had a minor role in 'Farewell My Concubine'."

"What a pity, they didn't show their face, otherwise there might have been an unexpected surprise."

"What's even more regrettable is that, since we're not part of the film crew, we can't get the points needed to be selected for the main competition. I guess even if 'Farewell My Concubine' wins the Palme d'Or, it won't get any points."

Before attending the awards ceremony that evening, Qin Keqing went to collect an award, not an official Cannes award, but a parallel award independently selected by the International Catholic Film and Audiovisual Association, called the Catholic Humanitarian Spirit Award.

When Qin Keqing was notified that she had won the award, she was completely stunned.

"The Catholic Ethical Prize for Humanity? 'La Dolce Vita'? Are you kidding me?"

It's worth noting that "A Bittersweet Life" is a gangster film, and there are dialogues between the master and apprentice at the beginning and end of the movie.

Although the master and disciple only appeared through their voices, many people would know that what they were saying was related to Buddhism and could be considered Eastern philosophy.

These are all obvious facts, so why would he receive the Catholic Humanitarian Award?

The words "Catholicism" should say it all.

Qin Keqing also specifically collected information about the Catholic Humanitarian Award, which was established in 1978 and is independently selected by a jury of six film critics and film experts from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds.

This award aims to recognize films that reveal human suffering, failure, and hope, unveil the mysterious depths of human nature, and possess both artistic value and universal humanistic concern.

The awards are primarily for films in the main competition, and the ceremony takes place on or the day before the Cannes Film Festival...

The more Qin Keqing learned, the more she felt that giving this award to "A Bittersweet Life" was really quite appropriate. "A Bittersweet Life" is interpreted as a film that reveals the suffering, failure and hope of human nature, as well as the mysterious depth of human nature and universal humanistic concern.

The key point is that this is a gangster movie... well, most gangsters in Europe and America are Catholics and Christians.

Alright, alright, if they dare to give it, Qin Keqing dares to accept it.

The award ceremony was very simple. There was no award ceremony, just a simple ceremony where a few reporters took some photos. That was it.

Qin Keqing's biggest concern is not the award's influence and credibility, but whether it can generate points.

If it brings in points, Qin Keqing will travel all over the world to collect prizes.

The result greatly disappointed Qin Keqing; he didn't get a single point!

"Pah! I knew these unofficial awards in Cannes had no influence whatsoever! Next time something like this happens, I won't come in person; it's a waste of time."

However, since we're here, we can't just go back without winning an award, can we?

Then, a beautifully dressed hostess came up with the Catholic Ethical Prize trophy, handed it to Qin Keqing with both hands, and Qin Keqing accepted it, and together they posed for photos with the reporters.

After the photo was taken, the hostess didn't leave. Instead, she extended her hand to Qin Keqing and said with a smile, "Hello, may I get to know you? I'm Kathy Berteng, and I really like your 'La Dolce Vita'."

"Hello, thank you, Casey."

Qin Keqing symbolically shook hands with Casey Berteng.

Although he hadn't experienced it himself, he was quite familiar with similar situations.

These hostesses are usually former models. For models, the fastest way to become famous is to get close to a director or a big star.

This kind of thing is especially common in European art circles.

Kathy Berten has a great figure, is young and beautiful, and has a very elegant demeanor.

However, Qin Keqing doesn't want to get involved in any scandals with models for the time being.

"By the way, I also have a Chinese name, Peng Jiesi. You can call me Jiesi."

When Kathy Berten pronounced "Jes," it sounded more like the English pronunciation of "Jes."

Qin Keqing smiled. European models have quite a variety of styles. Did they think that just because they have a Chinese name, they would develop a liking for you?

It really is something like... etc.

Qin Keqing thought about it carefully. Although he had only been in Hong Kong for less than half a year, he often saw the media mention the Governor.

The governor who took office in 92 was named Chris Bertten. He had three daughters. In order to integrate into Hong Kong, he not only gave himself the Chinese name Peng Dingkang, but also gave his wife and three women Chinese names.

Qin Keqing seemed to have overheard people on the set "fantasizing" and joking about how, if they were incredibly lucky, the governor's eldest or second daughter might take a fancy to so-and-so...

He seemed to remember that Chris Berten's 19-year-old second daughter's Chinese name was Peng Jiesi.

"Your name is Casey Berthold?"

"Yes."

"Your Chinese name is Peng Jiesi?"

"That's right."

Without saying a word, Qin Keqing quickly summoned "Make Friends" and tried searching for Peng Jiesi.

Surprisingly, I found it!

It seems this person must have been an actor.

So, Qin Keqing didn't hesitate to use 10 points to become casual acquaintances with Peng Jiesi.

With both Casey Berten and Peng Jiesi involved, Qin Keqing refused to believe that the person in front of him could be anyone else.

"Have we met before? Why do I have this feeling that I've seen you before?"

Qin Keqing smiled and looked at Casey Berteng tentatively.

"Wow, you feel the same way? I feel the same way too."

Kathy Berthold looked at Qin Keqing. She had only become interested in him because she had heard that he was a director from Hong Kong.

I don't know why, but I find Qin Keqing very pleasing to the eye now, and I have a very good impression of him.

A 19-year-old girl is very prone to misinterpreting this feeling!