Niu Niu’s “Final Payment” and Dong Jie’s “Zoom In, Zoom Out” each won two prizes at the 10th Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival in China.
“Final Payment,” from Shanxi-born Niu, won the Fei Mu Award for best film, along with best actor for Niu’s father, Niu Jianrong. “Zoom In, Zoom Out” took the Fei Mu jury award and the Cinephilia Critics’ Award.
The best film prize carries RMB1 million ($149,000), split equally between the director, for the development of their next film, and the film’s China distributor.
The film follows a homeowner locked in a standoff with his contractor over the last payment for a renovation, a dispute drawn from Niu Jianrong’s own experience.
“You jury’s bold for giving me this award,” Niu Jianrong said on stage. “It was such torture, my director-son trained me really hard. In real life, I’m my son’s father; but in front of the camera, he’s my father.”
Accepting the jury award, Dong said the team approached the film “with absolute purity of intent, which allows me to fully and unreservedly embrace the joy of making it. It’s the joy of conquering something immensely difficult alongside dear friends, the joy of connecting with audiences after the premiere, and, above all, the joy of simply being here, in this very moment.”
Xu Zao won the Unitree best director award for his debut animated feature “Light Pillar,” which carries RMB200,000 ($29,800) toward his next film. The jury cited his “strong aesthetic awareness” and “astute yet warm approach,” which “encourages everyone to hold up the beacon and keep moving forward even on a cold night.”
Sun won best actress for Wang Xiaozhen’s “A Joke.” The jury said she “delivers a delicate performance with restraint, portraying the regret and growth within an intimate relationship.”
Rafael Manuel won best director and $10,000 for “Filipiñana,” which Jia Zhangke executive produced and Unknown Pleasures acquired for Greater China.
Wang Wenting’s “Black Goat” won the Unitree best student short film award in the Pingyao Corner section, with RMB30,000 ($4,470) and a Unitree robot dog.
Earlier in the festival, Ann Hui received the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East-West Award. Pingyao also honored Marco Müller and Han Sanping with the International Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award, and producer Tang Yan, founder of Hello Group, which owns social app Momo, with the 10th Anniversary Award.
The full list of winners:
Fei Mu Awards – Hidden DragonsBest Film: “Final Payment,” dir. Niu NiuUnitree Best Director: Xu Zao, “Light Pillar”Best Actress: Sun Yi, “A Joke,” dir. Wang XiaozhenBest Actor: Niu Jianrong, “Final Payment,” dir. Niu NiuJury Award: “Zoom In, Zoom Out,” dir. Dong JieSpecial Mention: “Suzhou Quartet,” dir. Cai ChengjieBest Short Film: “Our Secrets,” dir. Lenti LiangBest Short Film Special Mention: “If a Walnut Falls,” dir. Liu Bohao
Roberto Rossellini Awards – Crouching TigersBest Film: “Congo Boy,” dir. Rafiki FarialaBest Director: Rafael Manuel, “Filipiñana”Jury Award: “Ben’imana,” dir. Marie-Clémentine DusabejamboSpecial Mention: “Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep,” dir. Rakan Mayasi
Pingyao CornerUnitree Best Student Short Film: “Black Goat,” dir. Wang WentingSpecial Mentions: “Rainforest,” dir. Justine Moo; “Whose Home,” dir. Huang Duojia
Youth Jury Award: “Whispers in May,” dir. Chen DongnanNetpac Award – Best First Film: “Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep,” dir. Rakan MayasiCinephilia Critics’ Award: “Zoom In, Zoom Out,” dir. Dong JiePYIFF–NAAC Distribution Award: “A Girl Unknown,” dir. Zou Jing
Honorary AwardsCrouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East-West Award: Ann HuiInternational Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award: Han Sanping, Marco Müller10th Anniversary Award: Tang Yan
