Chapter 781

Starting from the next edition, the Hexi Film Festival will be held on a rotating basis by city; cities may apply to serve as host venues—

In fact, this is of the same nature as the Olympic Games.

Why do so many countries want to bid for the Olympics? Beyond the initial considerations of national honor, a very important factor lies in the economic benefits behind it.

It was due to its own financial problems that Hexi became unable to continue funding the Hexi Film Festival.

It is not that the Hexi Film Festival cannot bring economic benefits and revenue to Hexi.

It is just that all beginnings are difficult.

Surely many cities are interested in hosting the Hexi Film Festival, but this is a novel endeavor; how to organize it, what form it should take, and how much profit it might generate are all uncertain matters.

For Yuming to become, after Hexi, the first city to host the Hexi Film Festival carries extraordinary significance.

Most crucially, this is truly a window opening to the world.

Lu Yanhe himself experienced the 2008 Olympic Games.

He remembered very clearly: at least for him, and for those around him, when did they feel their motherland had truly prospered?

In his memory, it was the year of the 2008 Olympics. Too many things happened that year, yet truly, with one heart and one mind, the hearts of people from every corner of the nation were tightly bound together. Before that, to put it bluntly, even in middle schools there was a prevalent atmosphere: the very best batch of students were destined to study abroad—how did one prove oneself among the best batch of students? By studying abroad.

Children today may find it very hard to understand that era, when the entire social environment lacked confidence in its own country's economy and culture, and looked outward toward foreign lands with such reverence.

In just over a decade, changes heaven-and-earth in scale occurred.

In this parallel universe, a top-tier international film festival like the Hexi Film Festival now has the opportunity to be hosted by Yuming, China—of course, this cannot be compared to the Olympics; the latter commands the attention of the entire world, while the audience for an international film festival is far smaller. Yet, speaking on a smaller scale, for China's film industry, this is still a tremendous breakthrough and opportunity.

Wu Yang and Lu Yanhe held a video call the following day.

Wu Yang told Lu Yanhe, "We will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce this matter. Since you are currently in Bicaro, regarding your appointment as Chairman of the Selection Committee, we could announce it together at tomorrow's press conference. Do you think that works?"

"Sure, why wouldn't it?" Lu Yanhe said. "In fact, Hexi has long had a Selection Committee; it's just that the Chairman has always been you personally. Suddenly having me take over would seem rather abrupt. To be honest, Director Wu, why not implement a dual-chairman system? You continue using your existing framework, but add a rotating Chairman who offers recommendations for the shortlisted films of each year's Main Competition Unit. After all, the reason you wish for me to serve as Chairman is my influence within the industry, correct?"

Expecting him to watch over a thousand films in one breath to select those suitable for entry into the Main Competition Unit was unrealistic.

He could not possibly do this as a full-time job.

Wu Yang said, "A dual-chairman system? Wouldn't that make you merely an honorary Chairman in name only?"

Lu Yanhe replied, "I cannot be a substantive Chairman anyway; where would I find the time to watch so many films?"

"But you will definitely participate in the final selection portion, right?" Wu Yang asked.

Lu Yanhe said, "That depends entirely on the degree of involvement you desire from me. The Hexi Film Festival is your festival, not mine. Moreover, once I become involved, I cannot simply adopt an attitude of 'you're good, I'm good, everyone's good' and play around casually. If you ask me to participate in the final selection, I will certainly have my own opinions. As I stated, I am willing to accept a purely titular, honorary role."

Wu Yang said, "Since the festival will now rotate locations, I believe this is also an opportunity for the Hexi Film Festival: to collaborate with top-tier filmmakers from different parts of the world, inviting them to serve as Chairman of our Selection Committee for each edition. This will further refresh our past styles and directions in film selection, which is excellent. If we are to hold this film festival in various places around the globe, then let the festival itself embody an aesthetic fluidity; perhaps this will become the Hexi Film Festival's greatest distinguishing feature among international top-tier festivals in the future."

Lu Yanhe had never expected that Wu Yang would actually turn "rotating hosting" into a future "feature" of the Hexi Film Festival, integrating it into the festival's very tone.

However, this could indeed become an opportunity for the Hexi Film Festival to further expand its influence and elevate its status.

It is just a pity that the Hexi Film Festival has not fully settled in China to be held there.

Although, if it truly were to settle completely in China, the Hexi Film Festival might not be able to maintain its past standing in the international film community. This involves the issue of acceptance—not only acceptance by the festival's audience, but also by filmmakers from various countries.

This could easily lead people to feel that the Hexi Film Festival is no longer the festival it once was.

But the nature of rotating hosting is different.

The press conference for the Hexi Film Festival was attended by over a hundred media outlets from around the world.

As the representative of the festival, Wu Yang explained and clarified the current situation of the Hexi Film Festival.

This was the first time he publicly stated that the Hexi Film Festival was facing funding supply issues, and that to ensure the festival's continuation, the mode of hosting had to be changed, seeking supporters worldwide.

Subsequently, he expressed gratitude to the China Film Association, which, upon learning of the situation, immediately took the initiative to contact them and offered assistance.

Only after clarifying the basic situation did Wu Yang begin answering the questions everyone was deeply concerned about.

Who would ultimately have the final say for the Hexi Film Festival in the future?

"The Hexi Film Festival remains the Hexi Film Festival, and will always be the Hexi Film Festival; this is beyond doubt and will not change," Wu Yang said. "Each host city provides funding to support the festival's organization and participates in hosting the Hexi Film Festival, but does not participate in core aspects such as film selection, audience composition, or awards. We will still follow the Hexi Film Festival's previous model; the only change is within the Selection Committee, where we will establish an Honorary Chairman. This Honorary Chairman will be chosen from among the filmmakers of the host country—a top-tier filmmaker of great renown in the film industry. Together with our original Selection Committee, he will determine the list of shortlisted films for the Main Competition Unit of each edition."

After some key changes were announced, members of the media in the audience began raising their hands one after another, eager to ask questions.

One of the most concerning questions for everyone was: "Will the establishment of such an Honorary Chairman create a bias in the selection of films for the Main Competition Unit of each edition, such that whichever country hosts the festival will have more of its films shortlisted?"

"First, I want to state that the list of films for the Main Competition Unit is not decided by the Honorary Chairman alone, but is a joint decision of the entire Selection Committee, including myself," Wu Yang emphasized. "Second, regarding whether there is bias: I believe there certainly is, but in reality, every film festival in this world exhibits a protective bias toward its host location; I think everyone knows this clearly in their hearts. The key issue is whether there is bias in the awarding of prizes. The Hexi Film Festival is the only top-tier festival where awards are determined by the audience. From this perspective, I believe that while one may question any film festival, one should not question Hexi. The rules and lists for audience selection at the Hexi Film Festival are published every year; this has already been tested over several decades."

Wu Yang's answer gradually put everyone at ease.

The unease and anxiety generated by the changes slowly subsided.

Wu Yang's response was quite candid.

"Previously, Variety mentioned that the Honorary Chairman of the next Selection Committee would be Lu Yanhe; is this true?"

"Yes, that is correct," Wu Yang nodded. "We are honored to announce that we have invited Lu Yanhe to serve as the Honorary Chairman of the next Selection Committee."

"Then will Linghe's films be shortlisted for the next Main Competition Unit?" a reporter asked sharply.

"If there are good and suitable films, why not?" Wu Yang said. "As I said before, the Hexi Film Festival's awards are decided by the audience. Even if Yan He is the Honorary Chairman, even if we select a Linghe film for the Main Competition Unit, it will be useless if the audience does not like it or accept it. In fact, I have already asked Lu Yanhe whether he will have any films ready for the Hexi Film Festival next year; unfortunately, he does not."

"Congratulations, Honorary Chairman," Huang Zhongjing of Long Yan called Lu Yanhe immediately to congratulate him.

Lu Yanhe laughed. "What is there to congratulate? It's a burdensome task." "Many people want to take on this burdensome task but cannot," Huang Zhongjing said. "As Honorary Chairman of the Selection Committee for the Main Competition Unit, you hold great power. We at Long Yan also have several excellent films; once you return to the country, please come and guide us."

Lu Yanhe said, "Huang Zong, in such matters, I must avoid any appearance of conflict of interest."

Huang Zhongjing said, "This is just normal communication regarding films; what conflict of interest is there to avoid? Wu Yang already stated at the press conference that local bias during film selection is quite normal."

Lu Yanhe said, "Huang Zong, as long as a film is good enough, it will certainly be selected. But if I go directly to your company to watch films, that would be too much like standing in a melon field while adjusting one's shoes or under a plum tree while fixing one's hat 【idiom for inviting suspicion】. Our ancestors said, 'A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall.' I cannot allow myself to fall into such an ambiguous situation that is hard to explain or clarify. Please do not make things difficult for me."

Huang Zhongjing: "..."

Lu Yanhe said, "I have some matters to attend to here; I'll hang up now. Let's talk later."

Like Huang Zhongjing, more than a dozen film company bosses, Producers, investors, directors, and others came seeking out Lu Yanhe.

The power of the title "Honorary Chairman of the Selection Committee for the Hexi Film Festival's Main Competition Unit" was far greater than Lu Yanhe had imagined.

This was not a matter of awards; this was a matter of money.

Merely being shortlisted for the Hexi Film Festival's Main Competition Unit, by virtue of that title alone, could enable a film to sell distribution rights in ten or twenty countries.

Not to mention the benefits that would arise from combining a good film with this title.

Even from the United States, inquiries had come from Green Valley and Parameter.

They rarely produced this kind of film aimed at festivals themselves, yet they frequently purchased distribution rights for such films.

For them, if they could learn some details about a film in advance, such as Lu Yanhe's opinion, they could act early instead of waiting for more news to emerge and then bidding against others.

Lu Yanhe suddenly became the hottest property.

Especially since he was currently at the Bicaro Film Festival.

Bosses of various independent companies, Producers, and directors were all scrambling to find connections, hoping to meet him.

Lu Yanhe, of course, knew why this was happening.

Lu Yanhe could only politely decline.

On the day he attended the panel discussion, many people in the venue were shouting his name.

Many media reporters also hoped to interview him; the entire corridor leading into the venue was packed with people.

Lu Yanhe smiled and greeted everyone, yet he turned a deaf ear to all sorts of noises and questions.

However, upon arriving at the venue, before Lu Yanhe had even made his entrance, someone loudly shouted his name, forcing the staff to intervene and stop it.

While resting backstage, Lu Yanhe met the guests who would be joining him for the panel discussion ahead of time.

These individuals were all genuine heavyweights; Lu Yanhe did not hesitate, immediately approaching them with humility to greet them and introduce himself.

Sandra Vitch, who had won the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and twice the Best Actress award at the Bicaro Film Festival, was now fifty-seven years old.

Among the group, she was the one who treated Lu Yanhe with the most warmth and enthusiasm.

"I've long wanted to know you; finally, we meet," Sandra Vitch said to Lu Yanhe with a gentle gaze. "It's truly remarkable; achieving so much at such a young age."

Lu Yanhe humbly replied, "Just very lucky."

Zeno Shi Diwensi, the famous German director, said, "Many people outside are here just for you; you're too hot, especially after that incident at the Hexi Film Festival—you guys basically dropped a landmine on the entire film industry and detonated it."

Lu Yanhe hurriedly said, "I only just learned the news myself; originally, I thought the Hexi Film Festival would be able to find sponsors willing to provide stable support again, but unexpectedly, they ultimately chose the rotating hosting method."

"In this world, there isn't a single top-tier international film festival—let alone a top-tier one; there isn't a single international film festival that rotates its hosting location," Sandra Vitch said with a smile, waving her hand. "How wonderful; it's another fresh thing. Our industry should constantly have some fresh elements."

"Sandra, not everything innovative is necessarily good; some changes can also destroy something," another director spoke up at this point.

Lu Yanhe looked over with some surprise.

It was Eugene Mo Leinuo, a famous American director.

At this moment, he wore an expression that clearly indicated disapproval and lack of support.

He even ignored the gaze Lu Yanhe directed at him.

Lu Yanhe smiled slightly.

There was a hint of gunpowder in the air.

The lounge suddenly fell silent; no one spoke.

As if nothing had happened, Eugene Mo Leinuo turned to Zeno Shi Diwensi beside him and said, "I heard you haven't secured funding for your next film yet?"

Zeno Shi Diwensi sighed, nodded, and said, "Yes, finding investment has always been difficult."

Eugene Mo Leinuo also sighed.

"Serious films are becoming harder and harder to make nowadays." (End of Chapter)