This director loves making friends.

Xu Qing had been waiting for news from the Venice Film Festival.

Qin Keqing had said that "Uncle" would be screened in the Venice Film Festival and had promised to take her to Venice to walk the red carpet.

In this day and age, going abroad is extremely difficult. Private passport approval is very strict, there are many political vetting checks by employers, foreign exchange controls are strict, and the visa approval rate is low. Ordinary people can hardly go abroad without government-sponsored channels or special connections.

It is virtually impossible for an actor to attend a film festival abroad under their own name.

There are generally two ways for domestic film and television professionals to go abroad to participate in international film festivals.

One method involves China Film Group (CFG) organizing and contacting relevant personnel. As the only state-owned film import and export agency in China, CFG organizes a group of people to visit and learn from A-list film festivals abroad almost every year.

The second type is for key films that are likely to win awards. Usually, an official delegation consisting of film bureau officials, representatives from China Film Group, directors, and actors will go together.

If the Venice Film Festival were to organize an official delegation to attend, Xu Qing could easily arrange to accompany them.

Unfortunately, since no domestic films were selected for the main competition, neither China Film Group nor the official organizers made any corresponding arrangements.

Given Xu Qing's background, going abroad wouldn't actually be difficult.

However, it will be somewhat troublesome for her to participate in the Venice Film Festival through the proper channels.

However, even if it's troublesome, she still has to go through the normal application process. The purpose of going to the Venice Film Festival is to walk the red carpet and "get her gold medal." If she doesn't go through the normal process, the domestic media won't report on it.

Fortunately, "The Man from Nowhere" was a co-production, and Hong Kong held a somewhat special position during this period.

With the backing of Beijing Film Academy and Qingdao Film Studio, and the influence of Xu Qing's own background, the application to participate in the Venice Film Festival through normal channels was approved—only the Venice Film Festival's announcement of "The Man from Nowhere" being selected for screening was pending.

The fact that "The Man from Nowhere" was selected for the screening section was the prerequisite for everything.

Xu Qing waited and waited, making several phone calls almost every day to familiar reporters and acquaintances in Europe, but until the day before the Venice Film Festival opened, there was still no news that "Uncle" would be included in the screening section.

How can we handle this?

If "The Man" can't even get into the screening section, what's the point of her going there?

Xu Qing was filled with a variety of emotions, including doubt, anxiety, irritability, and grievance. She felt a surge of anger rising within her. In order to go to Venice openly and legitimately, she had used a lot of favors from the older generation.

But now the Venice Film Festival is about to open tomorrow, and there is still no news about "The Man from Nowhere". This not only means that she has been busy for nothing and used up her favors, but she may also become a laughing stock in the industry.

Xu Qing didn't know who to blame.

Logically speaking, she should blame Qin Keqing.

But she couldn't bring herself to hate Qin Keqing. He was refined, handsome, talented, and possessed great strength, speed, and stamina...

Moreover, she carefully recalled the situation back then. At the wrap party for "The Man from Nowhere," she asked, "Director Qin, I heard our film is going to the Venice Film Festival?"

How did Director Qin respond?

"I'll probably go, but not in the main competition. It'll most likely be a special screening in the exhibition section. If I'm lucky, it might be selected as the closing film."

They only said they would probably go, but didn't say they would definitely go back.

Xu Qing became increasingly agitated. She felt there was no hope at all. The Venice Film Festival was opening tomorrow, what hope could there possibly be?

Finally, I simply stopped thinking about anything, sprawled out on the bed in a "spread-eagle" position, and promptly threw off the cumbersome fabric covering me. Oh well, whatever, let them do what they want. At worst, I won't go out for a while. Let whoever wants to laugh at me laugh.

I don't care anymore!

She was sleeping soundly and had a wonderful dream. In her dream, she attended the Venice Film Festival with Qin Keqing, walked the closing red carpet together, gave interviews to reporters, and went crazy back at the hotel... when she was woken up by the phone in the living room.

Xu Qing reluctantly opened her eyes, muttering under her breath, "This phone call really came at the worst possible time."

"Hello, who is it?"

It's so early in the morning, and they won't let me sleep in. Even if it's just for ten minutes later, it would be fine. Honestly, they're disturbing my sweet dreams.

"Xu Qing, you're quite something, aren't you? Should I congratulate you? Did you go to Venice?"

Xu Qing frowned. She recognized the voice on the other end of the phone: her "best friend," Jiang Wenli, who was known as one of the two beauties of the 88 class at Beijing Film Academy.

"Oh, it's Wenli! Aren't you filming a movie in a small mountain village in northwestern Shanxi? What made you think of calling me?"

Xu Qing thought Jiang Wenli was mocking her, so she quickly changed the subject.

Many people know that she recently went to Venice to handle some paperwork, including her "good friend" Jiang Wenli.

Xu Qing and Jiang Wenli actually had a good relationship in college, but starting from their sophomore year, after the nicknames "two golden flowers" and "two class beauties" began to circulate, the two of them unknowingly began to compete with each other.

They both want to outdo each other.

Just like this time, Jiang Wenli was originally in a small mountain village in northwestern Shanxi, filming the movie "Apricot Blossoms in March" with Zhang Guoli, and she was very out of touch with the outside world.

However, this film was produced by Qingdao Film Studio, and Xu Qing had regular contact with people from Qingdao Film Studio, so she found a way to let Jiang Wenli know that she was going to Venice.

She really wanted to slap herself right then and there.

"My scenes are finished, and I'm back."

Jiang Wenli said something on the phone, then added in an envious tone, "You little rascal, you're really dishonest. The movie you're in was selected for the main competition, but you keep telling everyone it's in the screening section. I really don't understand what you're thinking..."

"Wait, wait."

Xu Qing jumped in surprise, ignoring the fact that her pajamas had slipped down, and hurriedly asked, "What did you just say? The main competition? The movie 'The Man from Nowhere'?"

"Pretend! Pretend! Still pretending? You're just dishonest, you were like this back in school..."

Xu Qing, holding the phone, ignored Jiang Wenli's complaints and hurriedly said, "Lili, I have something to do. I'll treat you to dinner in a while. I'll hang up now."

After saying that, ignoring Jiang Wenli's "feeding, feeding" sounds, he pressed the hang-up button on the landline and then dialed a number he had called countless times in the past few days.

"Hmm, really? That's great..."

"Snapped!"

Xu Qing slammed the microphone on the base, feeling her heart pounding wildly.

"yeah!"

She couldn't help but wave excitedly.

As she waved her hand, her chest bounced rhythmically, trembling slightly.

"The Man from Nowhere has been selected for the main competition! Not the screening section, not the special screening section, but the main competition!"

"Venice, here I come! Haha..."

Hours before the opening of the Venice Film Festival, the Venice organizers announced the final film selected for the main competition, which they called a "surprise segment," describing it as a film with a strong auteur style dedicated to a specific group of film enthusiasts.

The media wasn't too surprised that Venice came up with another new idea; after all, it's the Venice Film Festival, so it's not unexpected that they'd come up with any new tricks.

In addition, this film, titled "Uncle," is the latest work by director Qin Keqing, who recently published articles in "Cahiers du Cinéma" and "Screen Daily" that sparked a lot of discussion. Many media outlets and movie fans are curious whether this film continues the specific style of "A Bittersweet Life."

Amidst the media frenzy, Xu Qing had already boarded a plane to France, her mind still replaying the dream from that day.

"Venice, here I come!"

"I'm here on the closing ceremony red carpet!"

"Qin Keqing..."

She felt that the moment she saw Qin Keqing, she had to finish the dream she had last night; the feeling of being stuck in the middle was unbearably tantalizing!