[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-in-huayu":3,"chapter-that-year-in-huayu-that-year-in-huayu-chapter-34":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year in Huayu",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2286870,4473,"Chapter 34: Closing Ceremony","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-34",34,"\u003Cp>Gu Changwei was very humble when accepting interviews, but the lead actress of *Peacock* was a different story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When asked about her confidence in winning an award, Zhang Jingchu bluntly sang Gu Changwei’s praises and took the initiative to mention *Return to Dust*, which also came from their home country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't think this film poses a threat to *Peacock*. Director Gu has worked with great directors like Director Zhang and Director Chen for a long time and has won international awards for multiple films. Even if there is competition, we are competing against other foreign films.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan felt this woman was not quite right in the head; why was she dragging him down for no reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Articles had already appeared on domestic web portals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"*Peacock* lead actress does not think highly of *Return to Dust*, implying it is not qualified.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The feud between the lead actresses of the two films...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenli did not leave her hotel room that afternoon, but it seemed she had been shouting on the phone for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Gu Changwei warned Zhang Jingchu is unknown, but the latter did not accept any more interviews afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan had always refused to accept interviews, slipping away ahead of time on several occasions to avoid being cornered by portal website reporters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The film festival's opening ceremony was drawing closer, and all the films shortlisted for the competition section had been announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The parallel Panorama section, Forum section, and others could not compare to the competition section in terms of popularity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the director of *Return to Dust*, Lin Nan was invited to watch the opening film, *Legend of the Savage*. Being chosen as the opening film, this piece had strong competitive potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The film explored the clash between two civilizations, the contact, communication, exchange, and trust between humans and savages, showcasing the savages' clear-cut love and hate, with the theme ultimately returning to humanity and the soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan knew the nature of the Berlin Film Festival; most works that came here to compete would have a heavy side, but he hadn't expected an educational film about humanity and bestiality right from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the jury president, Roland Emmerich gave a speech thanking the filmmakers who had gathered here from all over the world, promising that the next ten days would be judged with absolute fairness for all shortlisted films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to prior communication with the organizers, *Return to Dust* would complete its world premiere in Berlin alongside a dozen other films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the opening ceremony concluded, the jury would begin viewing films, while outside, the trade fair would be in full swing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three film distributors had already made offers to Lin Nan; they were from Europe, North America, and Asia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Works that could be shortlisted for the competition section never had trouble selling; it was just a matter of price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the three offers, the Asian one was the lowest, while the European offer was the highest at 2.2 million USD for the buyout of rights across all of Europe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had only cost three million to film initially, which converted to less than 400,000 USD; if he accepted that offer, he would have made about five times his money, and that was just for the European portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were still ten days left in the film festival, so Lin Nan was definitely going to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had already reached the stage of jury voting; what if they got lucky and won an award? Wouldn't that be a massive profit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the days passed, films in the festival exhibition halls that could be sold were sold, and those left behind had to find other ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Films in other sections had also been sold to varying degrees, leaving only the competition section.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Major distributors were keeping their eyes on this area, with some even placing bets in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unclear who leaked the news, but Gu Changwei's *Peacock* was highly praised by the jury and was a strong contender for the Golden Bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, domestic media were exceptionally excited, publishing report after report; those who didn't know better would have thought *Peacock* had already won the Golden Bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan met with many distributors every day; most of the works shortlisted for the competition section had not yet been traded, and everyone was waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was completely indifferent to the domestic media reports; setting aside his two blockbuster commercial films, his credentials truly could not compare to Gu Changwei's, and he admitted this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he remembered correctly, *Peacock* did win an award; as for what award it was, Lin Nan didn't have a deep impression, but it likely wasn't the Golden Bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he only cared about whether *Return to Dust* could achieve something, so he could slap these media outlets in the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The art school entrance exam registration was about to begin, and Lin Nan, who was in Berlin, was also a focus of attention for the school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Liu Yifei would send him text messages every day to cheer him on, and occasionally call him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jury was engaged in intense debate, and each award was decided by vote, but there were always films that received the same number of votes, and \"double-yolk eggs\" (shared awards) were very damaging to a film festival's credibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a tie occurred for an award at the highest vote count, the jury members needed to re-examine the film and vote again, which was also a time-consuming affair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time reached the 18th; on this day, Lin Nan was emailing Tang Mu in his hotel room when the film festival's official office called, inviting him and his crew to attend the closing ceremony and awards gala.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the news repeatedly, Lin Nan jumped up in excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After quickly replying to Tang Mu's email, Lin Nan left his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knocked on the doors of Li Baotian and Jiang Wenli one after another to inform them of the good news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, films that entered any of the various sections could attend the awards gala, along with well-known filmmakers and media from various countries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was an implicit, unspoken rule: if a film was specifically notified to attend the awards gala before the closing ceremony, it meant there was an award waiting for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Li Baotian was steady, he revealed a sense of joy. Jiang Wenli swept away her previous gloom, waiting for the awards gala.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>China Film Group was well-informed; they knew about Lin Nan and Gu Changwei being invited to the closing ceremony only a few hours after it happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening, Han Dong organized a gathering, inviting both crews, primarily the two directors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Baotian did not like socializing, and Jiang Wenli refused outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Nan arrived at the venue, he happened to run into Gu Changwei; miraculously, he was also alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Director Gu.\" Lin Nan stepped forward to take the initiative to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Changwei was not young, and he already looked old; seeing Lin Nan, he appeared cordial. \"Director Lin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a smile on his face, he perfectly fit the image of an elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan was puzzled, wondering how this generation of directors maintained themselves; they were all incredibly energetic, having children left and right, and cheating on their spouses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan and Gu Changwei entered together, trailing half a step behind, with someone leading the way in front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Dong and two middle-level managers from China Film Group were discussing the gains of this film festival and potential films of interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Changwei and Lin Nan were led in, and Han Dong was not surprised that both were alone, without their main cast members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, the feud between the lead actresses of the two films had everyone gossiping, and Gu Changwei was at the center of the gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, I must congratulate you both in advance; being invited to the awards gala means a trophy is certainly destined for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two took their seats, and Han Dong ordered the food to be served; it was actually Chinese food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Peacock* and *Return to Dust* were different; the latter had only passed the project review and had not continued to apply for a screening permit after filming was completed, while *Peacock* was being released domestically on the 18th, which was today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distributor was definitely China Film Group, and they only hoped the good news on the 20th would stimulate the film's box office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Nan filmed *Return to Dust*, he did not calculate his own director's fee or screenwriter's fee, so the cost was kept at three million, while the cost of *Peacock* exceeded ten million; for such films, it was difficult to recoup costs at the box office, so they had to rely on selling rights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the dinner table, they talked about the domestic release of *Peacock*; if it had been pushed back a few more days, the situation would have been different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Changwei had no regrets; his desire for awards outweighed his desire for box office, and as long as he won an award, he wouldn't lose money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The topic turned to Lin Nan; *Return to Dust* had its premiere in Berlin, the kind that wasn't cut by a single second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Changwei had also seen it; it was indeed very well-shot, and the story selection was very shrewd; the jury would like it, but passing the Bureau's hurdle wouldn't be easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days ago, Lin Nan had contacted his teachers from the directing department, hoping the school could help him during the review; some of the elders on the committee still had close ties with the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When you apply for the screening permit, I will also help you look into it.\" This was Han Sanping's promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The domestic distribution of *Return to Dust* naturally fell into the hands of China Film Group, which counted as a form of deep cooperation; it was actually an exchange, but in the end, Lin Nan was the one who benefited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the awards gala ended and they returned to the country, *Return to Dust* would begin applying for a screening permit, and they would decide on the release date afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the dinner table, Lin Nan and Han Sanping had settled the matter of *Return to Dust*; as for Ren Zhonglun's inquiry, he could only apologize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dinner could be considered the first contact between Lin Nan and Gu Changwei; Lin Nan asked this master about some techniques regarding cinematography, composition, and color, and he benefited greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time reached the 20th; Jiang Wenli also had some endorsements, so she didn't need to worry about her gown, and the sponsor got a free appearance out of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Baotian was very steady and casual, simply wearing a Zhongshan suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan had not taken any endorsements, and he had also refused some brand sponsorships for this red carpet; he thought Li Baotian's Zhongshan suit was good, so he got one for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The China Film Group delegation would also attend the closing ceremony; as a major distributor backed by a huge market, their status was very high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red carpet began at two in the afternoon; with films from various sections, guests, producers, social organizations... even if the appearance was only a few minutes, the sheer number of people meant the red carpet process would take the whole afternoon to finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Return to Dust* was a main competition section work, and its red carpet time was scheduled for the latter half; although art has no hierarchy, it cannot be denied that the most exciting part of the film festival is the competition segment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone spoke of art, but their eyes were all fixed on the trophy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what time slot one walked the red carpet, one had to arrive in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vehicles allowed to enter today were all brands designated by the sponsors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Nan, Li Baotian, and Jiang Wenli rode in the same stretch limousine from the hotel to the closing ceremony venue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, the distance was not far, and along the way, one could see many media vehicles and fans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Nan's group arrived at the waiting area, the red carpet was about to begin; the on-site host was introducing the achievements of this film festival, how many films were exhibited, how many filmmakers from various regions and countries, and some of the celebrities competing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the waiting area, Lin Nan saw the crew from the same section, *The Wayward Cloud* from Taiwan, and a nod counted as a greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several European directors communicated with Lin Nan in English, praising the sincere emotions and the exposure of humanity in *Return to Dust*, but finally, with a strange twist, they started talking about Zhang Yimou, which made Lin Nan very embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From afar, he saw the *Peacock* crew had also arrived, with Gu Changwei leading a group of main cast members into the waiting area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jingchu, in a long dress and holding Gu Changwei's arm, walked in with high spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>",2181,"2026-06-20T03:22:09.099Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","8bb8c1a9d339c07d6c4f865d919320f984135b18b74627c005f71a94b53447a2","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-35","that-year-in-huayu-chapter-33",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-in-huayu-cover.jpg"]