'Manchurian Tiger' wins top prize at Shanghai film festival

The Chinese black comedy Manchurian Tiger was honored as the best feature film at the awards ceremony closing the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival on June 19.

The film, directed by Geng Jun and starring Zhang Yu and Ma Li, tells a black story of a man from northeast China avenging a dog, hiding himself from debt collectors, and getting his families and friends involved, reflecting the social status quo.

Manchurian Tiger was a chosen winner listed in the Shanghai International Film Festival·SIFF PROJECT in 2017, helping to discover new talents and fund the winners with industry resources and investment. The prototype of the film was formed in 2012 and has since undergone six years of careful polishing before shooting started in early 2019.

Another Chinese winner at the festival was the Chinese production Double Helix by Qiu Sheng which took home the best live-action award in the short film category. The sci-fi story about two robots rebelling against humans is based on the work of prominent Chinese sci-fi writer Wang Jinkang. Qiu said he hoped it could show more possibilities for Chinese sci-fi films.

The international jury for the main competition of feature films for the Golden Goblet Awards was headed by veteran filmmaker Huang Jianxin, while the jurors were Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen, Chinese actor and director Deng Chao, Italian film critic and historian Marco Müller, French producer Natacha Devillers and Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu.

The animation jury consisted of director Chang Guangxi, Chinese animation director Wang Yunfei and German producer Jan Heinze, while the documentary jurors were Chinese director Zhang Yang, British director Arthur Jones and Chinese director Yang Lina.

The best documentary film award went to the Mexican production Sisyphus, while Even Mice Belong In Heaven, a co-production of the Czech Republic, France and Poland, received the award for the best animation film. The French production Mild Madness, Lasting Lunacy was named the best animated short film.

The wonderful thing about the documentary competition films this year was that they were all of a very high standard. There wasn't one of them that we disliked, said Arthur Jones, director of The Six, told China.org.cn. Obviously, the three of us on the jury all have our own personal tastes, but, overall, the standard was very high, and I enjoyed every moment of watching and talking about the films.

I love being in a city that takes films - and film watching - so seriously, he added.

Monkey King Reborn director Wang Yunfei, echoed the sentiment. I felt great energy and good vibes at the festival gathering filmmakers together.

I have watched many great films and had surprises beyond my imagination, and I can see more and more directors have their unique and strong personal touches and styles, which is a good thing, he told China.org.cn.

Jury of the Golden Goblet Award gather on stage to greet the audience at the closing awards ceremony of the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 19, 2021. [Photo courtesy of SIFF]

As China's longest-running international cinematic event, the Shanghai International Festival showcased more than 400 Chinese and foreign films during its 10-day run, making it the first full-scale, in-person film festival to be held in the country amid the pandemic adhering to national and local safety protocols.

A total of 4,443 films from 113 countries and regions were submitted, a record high. International guests mostly were unable to attend the festival because of China's ongoing border controls and quarantine requirements, but some still managed to attend or communicate via video links. Domestic Chinese moviegoers are still enthusiastic for the screenings with virtually all the tickets sold out.

The distance is not a problem for us to communicate, Iranian film director Abolfazl Jalili said via video. His film The Contrary Route won two awards at the film festival - best director and best actor for Pouyan Shekari. I hope that, one day, I can cooperate with Chinese filmmakers on a new production that explores humanity.

The organizers said they are optimistic that the festival will be more open to international attendance in 2022 for its celebratory 25th edition.

Full winner list of the Golden Goblet Awards:

- Best Feature Film: Manchurian Tiger, China

- Jury Grand Prix: Barbarian Invasion, Malaysia

**- Best Director: **Abolfazl Jalili, The Contrary Route, Iran

**- Best Screenplay: **Alexey Viktorovich Kozlov, The Conscience, Russia

**- Best Actress: **Marzena Gajewska, Amateurs, Poland

**- Best Actor: **Pouyan Shekari, The Contrary Route, Iran

**- Outstanding Artistic Achievement: **The Conscience, Russia

**- Best Cinematography: **Vyacheslav Tuyrin, The Conscience, Russia

**- Best Documentary Film: **Sisyphus, Mexico

**- Best Animation Film: **Even Mice Belong In Heaven, Czech Republic/France/Poland

- Best Live Action Short Film: Double Helix, China

- Best Animated Short Film: Mild Madness, Lasting Lunacy, France