Chapter 11: Which Film Festival to Attend?

After Cao Yang finished the film's post-production, he first spoke to Old Situ, then notified Tian Zhuangzhuang and Hou Ke, the head of the Youth Film Studio.

Hou Ke is not only the head of the Youth Film Studio but also the vice dean of the academy, having risen through the ranks from the directing department.

This film was nominally a student practical project and part of the teaching curriculum; once completed, it certainly had to be submitted for review in the name of the Youth Film Studio.

Of course, if it were to participate in various film festivals, it would also be in the name of the school.

Not many people were watching the film this time, and they chose the school's small screening room.

Before the film started, out of courtesy, Hou Ke praised Old Situ, saying, "Your student is no simple character; he's only a junior and has already made a feature film. His future prospects are limitless."

Old Situ smiled, "It's his first time making a feature film, so I don't know how it will turn out. I thought the script was quite simple; it would be good enough if he could just film it according to the script."

"I've also read the script. The content is a bit singular and lacks a deep exploration of human nature. But being able to finish it makes it a decent feature film."

Hou Ke thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Let's see how the quality is. If it's passable, we'll send it to a few small film festivals in Europe and South America for a tour; it can be considered the school's support for the student. We can't let those hundreds of thousands go to waste."

The meaning behind Head Hou's words was simple: why would someone spend hundreds of thousands? Isn't it just to build up a good resume?

As long as the film was decent, he wouldn't mind sending it to small foreign film festivals to get it gilded. Those small festivals were quite tolerant of student films, and bringing back a few awards would be good for both the student and the school.

He was unaware that Cao Yang had received Old Situ's support to make this film, nor did he know that the funding had been sourced by Tian Zhuangzhuang from a coal boss.

Hou Ke had read the script; the story was a bit singular and crude, lacking any exploration of the shining points of human nature or the torture of human evil. It was somewhat like an autobiographical film.

But for a junior student, being able to film it and tell the story clearly was already quite good.

Even if he didn't attach much importance to this film, it was, after all, Old Situ's student, and he had involved Tian Zhuangzhuang. Regardless of the background, it wouldn't hurt to sell a favor first.

Xie Fei, sitting to the side, coughed and said, "Let's watch the film."

Amidst the melodious and deep sound of a cello, the film slowly began.

At first, no one paid much attention, but five minutes later, Xie Fei was the first to let out an "Oh," and sat up straight.

Subsequently, Old Situ also sat up properly and began to watch intently.

Not long after, Hou Ke also shed his previous indifference and stared at the screen with a serious expression.

The film's plot was simple, without any pretentiousness or dazzling editing; the entire film was like a straightforward essay, very easy to understand.

The hundred-minute film ended quickly, and Cao Yang even heard a few deep breaths.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

Xie Fei was the first to applaud, and the others followed suit.

"Not bad!"

Old Situ looked at Cao Yang; this kid hadn't let him down. This wasn't just filming what was on the script; the plain and simple plot could make people's emotions fluctuate, which was a sign of true skill.

Furthermore, this was a film from a female perspective. It was hard to say in Asia, but in Europe and America, it was extremely popular. As long as the character could stand on her own, it was easy to gain the support of some judges.

Did the lead actress perform well?

That was undoubtedly brilliant!

"Who is this actress? She has so much spirit; this character has come alive," Xie Fei added, praising her.

Tian Zhuangzhuang winked at Cao Yang and gave him a thumbs up.

Although he was the cinematographer and had played a role, he hadn't followed the post-production, so this was his first time seeing the finished film.

As expected, Cao Yang hadn't done anything flashy. With such a thin plot, one should just honestly tell the story, and Cao Yang had done that very well.

Hou Ke's eyes shone as if he were the one who had made the film. He turned to look at Xie Fei and asked solemnly, "Teacher Xie, what do you think?" Xie Fei was the leader of the Fourth Generation directors and had won a Golden Bear in Berlin. In terms of film art alone, even Tian Zhuangzhuang was a bit inferior.

Plus, he had already received internal news that the Berlin Film Festival had sent an invitation for Xie Fei to be a jury member for the main competition section of next year's 51st Berlin Film Festival. It was estimated that he would be leaving for Berlin in a while.

"The shooting technique is very plain."

Xie Fei smiled at Cao Yang and encouraged him, "Youth is capital; there is still a lot of room for improvement."

He meant that the lens language Cao Yang used was too simple.

Old Tian glared at Cao Yang. He had originally suggested not using so many long takes and not just using simple pans and zooms, but the kid wouldn't listen, and the two had argued for a long time.

For this, he had even gone to Old Situ to badmouth him, wanting to take over the film, but he was scolded by Old Situ and given a warning.

"However, the choice of the lead actress is excellent! She has so much spirit; I find it almost unbelievable. It doesn't look like acting; it's like the lead actress is playing herself. She really is a good actor!"

Xie Fei couldn't help but exclaim.

Hou Ke asked again, "Teacher Xie, setting aside all external factors, if you were a judge, how would you choose?"

!

Xie Fei understood what Hou Ke meant. After a moment of silence, he said, "There is a great hope for Best Actress."

Hou Ke slapped his thigh and stood up, asking Xie Fei, "What is the deadline for the main competition section of the Berlin Film Festival?"

"It seems to be November 8th."

"There are only twenty-some days left."

Hou Ke calculated, "Time is a bit tight."

Then he waved his hand, "Never mind, let it be tight. It's impossible for this film to have any violations. I'll go find the dean. I don't believe that even if I have to make phone call after phone call, I can't get it approved as soon as possible."

Just as he reached the door, Hou Ke returned and patted Cao Yang on the shoulder, "Cao Yang, well filmed, not bad, keep working hard."

He turned his head and said to Old Situ, "Teacher Situ, when it comes to having an eye for talent, you are the best."

He gave a thumbs up.

"Teacher Xie, come with me to the dean's office. With you there, it will be more persuasive."

Xie Fei didn't decline; he stood up, patted Cao Yang on the shoulder, and followed Hou Ke out.

Only the three teacher-student members remained in the screening room.

Seeing that everyone had left, Cao Yang whispered to Old Situ, "Why the rush to decide on Berlin? The time is too tight. I had originally thought about going to Cannes next year."

This was Cao Yang's sincere thought. The Berlin Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival already had Chinese Best Actresses; only Cannes had yet to produce one. It wouldn't be until 2004 that Zhang Manyu would be crowned Best Actress at Cannes for the French film *Clean*.

Cao Yang had wanted to aim for the first Chinese Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival.

Tian Zhuangzhuang pursed his lips and said, "Just be content. Didn't you see how excited that kid Hou Ke was? Berlin Best Actress and Cannes Best Actress are both among the three major European festivals to the school; there's no difference. If there is a difference, it's which one is easier to win and easier to let their politi..."

Teacher Situ coughed in time, interrupting the loose-lipped Tian Zhuangzhuang, and explained to Cao Yang, "Even if Xie Fei weren't a judge, if the school had to choose, they would likely prioritize Berlin. Berlin is friendlier to Chinese-language films."

Then he smiled and said, "Besides, Xie Fei is a judge this time. Don't look at him as just a judge and not the jury president; he has won a Golden Bear and is one of Berlin's own. His influence is no less than that of the jury president."

Tian Zhuangzhuang added, "You should just be secretly happy."

(End of chapter)