Chapter 599: The Princess Series II

In February, the temperature in Berlin was not high; although the sun hung in the sky, the temperature was only around zero degrees.

When Lin Nan and the others walked out of the airport, they could clearly feel the air was unusually dry.

Because the wind blowing against them felt like knives, scraping their skin until it hurt.

"Liu Qianqian, wear your mask properly."

Lin Nan instructed Liu Liu Yifei beside him; the latter was already fully equipped, a large mask covering her face, her hands tucked into the pockets of her trench coat, and her hood pulled up.

"Lin Nan, over there," Liu Liu Yifei called out softly.

Following the direction Miss Liu indicated, Lin Nan saw the organizing committee's fleet holding up pickup signs, and Tang Mu was right beside them.

"Tang Mu."

"Lin?"

Tang Mu, who had been chatting with someone, looked over at the sound, and joy instantly flashed across his face.

He puffed out visible breath, jogging over; because he was wearing a down jacket, he looked even more bloated.

"Lin, Crystal, you don't need me to arrange a car for pickup today; the film festival organizers have made arrangements, see?"

As he spoke, Tang Mu also pointed to the several staff members following behind him.

"Lin, welcome back to the Berlin Film Festival. According to the schedule, you will be staying at the Victory Palace Hotel. Can we depart now?"

Lin Nan looked at Liu Liu Yifei, then nodded to the foreigner before him, "Mm, let's go to the hotel then."

A group of ten, plus Tang Mu and the other two, required six cars, driving all the way from the airport to the Tagore Berlin Victory Palace Hotel.

Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei sat in the back seat, Tang Mu in the front passenger seat, the three sharing one Mercedes.

On the road, Tang Mu began to speak about the film festival's official arrangements.

"The day after tomorrow morning, the Berlin Film Festival officially opens. 'Manchester by the Sea' will have its global premiere at nine o'clock as the opening film."

"Lin, according to the requirements, you must attend the premiere. At that time, there will be a large number of filmmakers, directors, and actors attending because the opening film holds such influence."

To be honest, this was the first time Lin Nan enjoyed such treatment, and for a moment he was truly flattered and surprised.

But at the same time, this also meant that even if 'Manchester by the Sea' did not win a major award, its copyright could absolutely be sold for a high price.

Because the opening films of the three major European festivals are just that special, representing honor and strength, let alone an opening film that was also selected for the main competition unit.

"I understand, so I'll have to get up early then."

While Lin Nan spoke jokingly, he also glanced at Liu Liu Yifei beside him, only to be punched hard by her.

More than half an hour later, the convoy arrived at the destination.

Although the Tagore Berlin Victory Palace Hotel was not a five-star hotel, its history was long enough; many Golden Bear directors had once stayed there.

Lin Nan still remembered when he came with 'Buried' that year; Wang Quan'an, Yu Nan, and the others had stayed right here, also arranged by the Berlin International Film Festival organizing committee!

"Director Jiang and the others seem to be staying at the Hilton Hotel, not far from here."

In the room, Liu Liu Yifei held Lin Nan's and her own phones, scrolling through text messages and social media notifications, all sent by industry insiders who had already arrived in Berlin.

"Since we're idle anyway, after lunch, let's dress warmly and go check out the exhibition area?"

Lin Nan suggested, mainly because he was truly a bit bored.

For a director, isn't the fun of a film festival just watching films? Screening targets in advance is also a very interesting thing to do.

"Sure," Liu Liu Yifei agreed readily.

Although the film festival's opening ceremony was the day after tomorrow, as one of the three major European film festivals, the Berlin Film Festival's attribute of a global film copyright trading market was unaffected by the opening or closing ceremony times.

The massive number of participating films often arrived a week before the opening ceremony and only began to wind down a week after the closing ceremony ended.

At a little past two in the afternoon, Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei went out, accompanied by two assistants, two bodyguards, and Tang Mu.

A huge poster of 'Manchester by the Sea' occupied the largest advertising space outside the exhibition area.

From a distance, one could see Leonardo's decadent, lifeless, utterly desolate face, and his eyes as numb as a walking corpse, extremely conspicuous.

Many passing tourists, distributors, and filmmakers would stop and gaze, however briefly, before walking into the seemingly endless film exhibition area with curiosity.

"'Cinderella'?"

Not long after entering the exhibition area, Liu Liu Yifei shouted excitedly as if she had discovered a new continent.

"Crystal, Disney's live-action film 'Cinderella' in the Princess series will also have its global premiere during this film festival. I heard they intend to release it simultaneously in the North American and Chinese markets."

Tang Mu, this dutiful lackey, spoke immediately.

"Premiere? Simultaneous release?"

As soon as Lin Nan muttered that, Liu Liu Yifei pulled him toward the live-action film 'Cinderella' exhibition area.

"Cate Blanchett, this 'Great Demon King', playing Cinderella's stepmother... that lineup is indeed quite impressive."

Director Lin Da commented, "The 'Great Demon King's' look is also very cool!"

"Lin Nan, after the opening ceremony, let's go watch this movie?"

Liu Liu Yifei turned back to look at Lin Nan, her eyes shining with expectation.

"Can you give me two tickets?"

Lin Nan spoke directly to the people at the 'Cinderella' exhibition area.

"Of course, Director Lin Nan."

Good heavens, the few people were instantly a bit stunned; did they know each other?

Perhaps noticing Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei's surprise, the other party smiled and said:

"We met when Crystal Liu did the voiceover for 'Frozen' at headquarters, Director Lin Nan. And you just won the Golden Globe in Hollywood not long ago."

Well, Lin Nan's memory wasn't as good as the other person's.

Liu Liu Yifei happily accepted the movie admission tickets: "Thank you."

Under normal circumstances, premiere films at the film festival only provide tickets to the public after the opening ceremony. Being able to provide them early indeed involved some of Lin Nan's "face value."

The group toured the exhibition halls, where numerous large-scale productions were on display, including several domestic films.

Among them, the one drawing the most attention was "Wolf Totem," because its director had won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Over by "Manchester by the Sea," the place could be described as packed to the brim.

Lin Nan's influence, combined with Leonardo, Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, and the recent haul of four Golden Globe awards and six Oscar nominations, meant this film could not help but attract attention.

"Hey, Crystal, guess what I just thought of?"

Suddenly, Tang Mu let out a shout, his face filled with excitement.

Lin Nan was startled by the fellow and looked at him with disdain.

"What? Tang Mu."

Liu Liu Yifei was somewhat confused, not knowing what Tang Mu wanted to say.

"Crystal, I just thought that in Disney's Princess series, there seems to be one who is Eastern? Haven't they been developing live-action films all these years? Perhaps you have a chance?"

Tang Mu, this sycophant, truly was a qualified sycophant.

After he finished speaking, without waiting for Liu Liu Yifei to react, he turned his gaze to Lin Nan again. "Lin, you must work hard! You are Crystal's backing..."

Liu Liu Yifei was directly amused, holding Lin Nan's arm and laughing uncontrollably, forgetting the grand promise Tang Mu had painted in his previous sentence.

"In your past life, you must have been a dog, and specifically a horse-keeper; your skill at flattery is undeniable!" Lin Nan couldn't help but retort.