Chapter 333: Tacit Understanding

On January 28th, "New Pirates of the Caribbean" had not yet finished filming. However, Depp's scenes had already been filmed, and Cao Yang let him go to Berlin first.

Charlize Theron also called and asked Cao Yang when he would go to Berlin, and whether she should wait for Cao Yang to go together.

Cao Yang let Theron go to Berlin first, no need to wait for him.

Before agreeing to be the jury president of the Berlin Film Festival, Cao Yang had already told Berlin Film Festival chairman Dieter Kosslick that he might go to Berlin in early February because of the movie.

Dieter Kosslick didn't care about this small problem and agreed very readily.

However, out of politeness, after the list of the main competition unit was announced, Cao Yang still called Dieter Kosslick.

Moreover, he also called several judges, letting them screen once during this time and select the awards they thought were suitable.

The number of awards in the main competition unit of the Berlin Film Festival is not fixed, but there are a few major awards that are definitely fixed, namely Best Film, Jury Grand Prix, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

These five are considered major awards that are fixed every year. In addition, there are several awards that are not fixed, and they need to be "specially set" according to the films selected for the main competition unit every year.

Cao Yang let each judge select according to personal taste, which were these five fixed awards. The remaining "specially set" awards, how many awards to "specially set," all had to wait until Cao Yang went to Berlin to decide.

Actually, Cao Yang was very "democratic" in this matter.

It's just that what the judges selected according to personal taste, Cao Yang didn't intend to make public. After he collected these lists, as long as they weren't made public, it was equivalent to not selecting, and the decision-making power was still in Cao Yang's hands.

He said which film had support, even if there was no support, but because everyone didn't know everyone's choice, then this film "really" had "support."

This is actually a kind of "democracy." Cao Yang fully respects everyone's right to choose and gives enough face to the judges, letting them feel valued and respected, but the decision-making power is always in Cao Yang's hands.

On the early morning of February 3rd, Cao Yang was picked up by the film festival organizing committee at Berlin Tegel Airport and arranged at the Berlin Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

This is a five-star hotel that opened in 2004. Because it is only a few steps away from the venue of the film festival, Potsdamer Platz, and also very close to the Berlin Film Palace, several judges were arranged here.

The next day, after Cao Yang woke up, he had a simple breakfast at the hotel. Just after eating, Dieter Kosslick came over.

It seems that his eyes and ears in the hotel are quite a few, otherwise he wouldn't have come to find Cao Yang by pinching the time so accurately.

"Cao, welcome to your arrival. We haven't seen each other for more than six years, right? You look so young and handsome."

Dieter Kosslick hugged Cao Yang, looking very self-familiar, as if he were really an old friend who hadn't seen Cao Yang for many years.

To tell the truth, Cao Yang's impression of Dieter Kosslick's appearance was a bit blurred. He brought "On the Beach at Night Alone" to Berlin in 2001, and it was the first time he saw Dieter Kosslick after winning the Jury Grand Prix.

Since then, although Cao Yang often came to Europe to participate in film festivals, it was limited to Venice and Cannes, but Berlin hadn't come again, and there was no opportunity to see Dieter Kosslick.

"You too, Dieter. Seeing you again is just as kind. I have special feelings for Berlin. Coming here again, my heart is full of excitement and anxiety."

Cao Yang said with a smile, he could also say polite words.

"Haha, I believe this is your true feeling. Berlin is the place where you became famous, and it will also be the place of your glory."

Dieter Kosslick's words were double-entendre, and then he skipped this topic and asked with concern:

"You sat on a plane for more than ten hours and only arrived in Berlin in the early morning, and only rested for a few hours. Do you want to rest for another day and then put yourself into work tomorrow?"

"The body is the foundation of everything. Only by resting more can you maintain physical and mental health and can you film more classic movies."

"No need, I am still young, resting for a few hours is enough. Besides, I have already been late for several days, so let's work as soon as possible."

Cao Yang shook his head and refused Dieter Kosslick's good intentions.

Actually, the jury wasn't as hard as everyone imagined. There were only 22 films shortlisted for the main competition unit, and only about 8 needed to be selected from these 22.

Actually, this is also a very subjective choice. Only those films that make people's eyes shine and have memory points after watching will become the focus of the judges' debate, while those without too many memory points are likely unable to win awards.

Unless other factors are mixed in.

"Haha, I appreciate your serious and earnest work attitude. Being able to invite you is the most correct decision I have made since taking office."

Dieter Kosslick first complimented again, and then said: "Cao, I don't know what your opinion is on this year's Jin Xiong Award?"

Cao Yang wanted to laugh.

I haven't even watched the films shortlisted this year, and you are probing now. Is this reminding me that the Jin Xiong Award is your bottom line?

It looks like this.

Every year, the films that can be shortlisted for the main competition unit, except for a few that are big directors or directors who have won the three major European awards, are handed over directly, and the other dozen or so are selected from thousands.

At least the quality is guaranteed to a certain extent.

Therefore, these films that have entered the main competition unit, no matter which one wins, are not considered accidents for the film festival—except for the Jin Xiong Award.

The highest award of each of the three major European film festivals always holds the power in the hands of the film festival chairman or artistic director. This is the embodiment of their power and also the bottom line and guarantee of the film festival.

Dieter Kosslick still seemed a bit uneasy. Cao Yang's influence was too great, and he definitely didn't want any accidents to happen.

"I haven't watched the films yet. After I watch all those shortlisted films, I will pick the films I think are suitable."

Cao Yang said this, seeing Dieter Kosslick's face change, and smiled slightly in his heart. I thought you would always be so cheerful and calm.

"Of course, for the final decision of the Jin Xiong Award, I will only give you the right to suggest, and the decision-making power is still in your hands."

Cao Yang didn't pant again and said with a smile.

Dieter Kosslick was obviously relieved. He laughed again and corrected:

"Cao, it's not right to say that. What decision-making power is in my hands? It's not in my hands. The ownership of the Jin Xiong Award by the Berlin Film Festival is produced by a very complex voting process."

"Among them, there is the jury's vote, and there is also the organizing committee's vote, and also need to refer to the score of the field journal. This is the embodiment of the film festival's credibility."

Fine, whatever you say is fine. Anyway, you are still the organizing committee chairman, and the film festival chairman, and also concurrently the artistic director... in short, you are the "incarnation" of the Berlin Film Festival's credibility.

"Let's go, I'll take you to see other members of the jury."

After Dieter Kosslick said this, he said softly: "The production of the Jin Xiong Award is a bit complex, but other awards are much simpler. The jury can completely make the decision."

Cao Yang could hear that this could be considered a kind of "exchange" for himself.

The two could be considered to have confirmed the previous consensus again.

Dieter Kosslick, in order for Cao Yang to be this jury president, actually could be considered to have delegated a lot of power.

In previous years, except for the Jin Xiong Award, among the several fixed awards, one or two would be controlled by the film festival. This time, it seems that except for the Jin Xiong Award, he delegated the rest to Cao Yang.

Under Dieter Kosslick's introduction, Cao Yang met other members of the jury.

Not counting Cao Yang, the jury president, among the other eight jury members, Depp, Theron, Ning Ying, and Shi Nansheng, he knew all of them.

The remaining four, there is Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass, German actor Mario Adorf, Danish filmmaker Molly Malene Stensgaard, and the last one is Iranian actor Reza Naji.

For Cao Yang's arrival, these jury members gave warm applause, looking like they didn't have any unhappiness because of Cao Yang's late arrival.

"Cao, the remaining time belongs to you. You have important things to do, so I won't add chaos here."

Dieter Kosslick waved to everyone and left this office that belonged to the jury.

After Dieter Kosslick left, Cao Yang didn't say much, nor did he immediately put himself into work to watch the films, but asked with a smile:

"You should have watched all 22 films once, right? Now write down the films you think can win awards and hand them to me. I want to synthesize your opinions."

From the announcement of the nomination list on the 28th to today the 4th, it has been about a week. I believe they all have a general understanding.

Hearing Cao Yang's words, no one moved first, until Depp handed an envelope to Cao Yang, Theron and Ning Ying followed closely, and others handed the prepared list to Cao Yang.

Eight lists, these were prepared long ago.

Cao Yang took the list and went to his own office.

He first opened the envelope Depp gave, and then laughed. Sure enough, as he expected, the envelope was empty. Depp was expressing that he would fully support himself.

Then, Cao Yang picked out Theron's envelope. The content inside was again beyond his expectation. What was written inside was not the name of the movie or the actor, but a room number and a room card.

Moreover, it was also written inside that she had reconciled with her boyfriend, Irish actor Stuart Townsend.

Damn, what do you mean?

You and your boyfriend are breaking up and reconciling, do you still need to explain to me?

What kind of person do you take me for?

Cao Yang made up his mind to send the room card back to Theron tonight.

Of course, Theron's move of not giving a list could also be considered similar to Depp's idea, both having the meaning of fully supporting Cao Yang.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 334 =====