Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 123 [He has become the best actor already?! ]

Half past four in the afternoon.

Bunkamura in the busy Shibuya district of Tokyo.

The closing ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival is being held here, and the grand red carpet ceremony has already begun.

Nominally, the Tokyo International Film Festival is sponsored by the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Image, but in reality, the major Japanese film companies are the ones manipulating it behind the scenes.

In order to expand the influence and fairness of the film festival, they have invited world-famous filmmakers to serve as jury chairmen since the first Tokyo Film Festival in 1985. (Since 91, the festival has changed from being held every two years to being held every year)
The chairman of the jury for this year's fifth Tokyo International Film Festival is legendary Hollywood producer Richard D. Zanuck.

Richard has been engaged in film production since the 50s, which is 40 years now. He can be regarded as one of the most veteran producers in Hollywood.

There are a total of 16 films shortlisted for the main competition unit of the Tokyo International Film Festival this year. Lai Shengchuan's "Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land" is not among them. His film was shortlisted for the Youth Film sub-unit.

On the red carpet.

Li Yishu got out of the car with Nakayama Mihui and Kimura Takuya.

"The next person to come is the famous Chinese director Li Yishu. This year is the first time that Director Li Yishu has participated in our Tokyo Film Festival in Japan. She brought two excellent films, "The Mountain, the Man, the Dog" and "Love Letter"..."

"The Mountain broke the long-standing record of Chinese-language film attendance in Japan. The pure love film Love Letter, which he directed and filmed himself, broke the record of Japanese love film attendance, ranking first in film history..."

Following the host's introduction, Lee Yi-su and the crew walked on the red carpet.

"Supervisor Li, Supervisor Li over here!"

"Kimura Takuya I love you!"

"Miya Nakayama, you are so beautiful!"

"..."

The scene was bustling with people, hundreds of reporters from all over the world blocked both sides of the red carpet. In addition to these reporters, there were also a large number of fans who came to attend the film festival.

Looking around, there were at least a thousand people packed together, and today's red carpet was quite lively.

After waving her arms at the reporters, Li Yishu walked towards the hosting area.

Nakayama Mihui and Kimura Takuya, who originally wanted to pose more behind him, immediately followed. The two of them were able to attend the Tokyo Film Festival thanks to Director Li.

The female host smiled and said, "Director Li, this is your first time attending our Tokyo Film Festival. Do you have any award-winning goals?"

"Of course the more the better."

Lee Ye-su smiled brightly and said, "I am very happy to be nominated for two films at the same time. Regardless of whether I win the award or not, I am very grateful to the film organizers for recognizing my film."

The female host said: "I believe Director Li's film will definitely win an award. I have seen both "The Mountain" and "Love Letter". They are so well made!"

"Thank you!" Li Yishu smiled politely, then he gestured to Kimura Takuya and the other person beside him to ask them to be interviewed.

The female host also noticed this detail and turned her attention to the two of them.

After asking a few questions, the hostess said, "Okay, thank you Director Li, Mr. Kimura, and Ms. Nakayama. I hope you can all win something at this film festival."

Soon, a group of three people walked into the exhibition hall. At this time, many people had already arrived at the scene.

Under the guidance of the staff, Li Yishu and others found a seat and sat down.

They appeared relatively late, so they had to wait for about twenty minutes. The lights on the scene gradually dimmed, and the host had already begun urging everyone to return to their seats. There were only ten minutes left before the closing ceremony began.

Half past six in the evening.

With the performance of Japan's top singer Miyuki Nakajima, the closing ceremony of the 5th Tokyo Film Festival officially kicked off.

After the opening ten minutes of the event, two Japanese actors walked onto the stage and began presenting the Best Screenplay Award in the Youth Film Unit.

"Supervisor Li, Supervisor Li..."

At this moment, a man in his thirties came carefully to Li Yishu's side and whispered, "It's ready over there."

"Is it my turn to present the award?"

"Yes, Director Li, it will be your turn to win the award in a few more years."

"Oh, okay, take me there then."

Although Li Yishu was a little surprised that it was his turn so soon, he didn't think much about it. He followed the staff and went to the backstage through a detour.

When she got backstage, Li Yishu also saw her partner this time, a fairly pretty white woman.

"Director Li, this is British actress Janet McTeer. She will present the Silver Unicorn Award for Young Film with you next."

Following the staff's introduction, Jenny smiled and stretched out her hand, saying, "Hello, I'm Jenny."

Li Yishu smiled and shook hands with the other party: "Hello, you can call me Li."

After the staff left, Jenny said, "Lee, I've seen your movie The Postman in the Mountain."

"Hmm? Have you seen it?" Li Yishu raised an eyebrow. "Yes, it was in the exhibition hall of this film festival. I have to say it was very interesting. Although you filmed in the far east China, some of the plots and settings made me feel like the farm in England during my childhood..."

Jenny is very talkative, and through her deliberate conversation, the two became familiar with each other.

About seven or eight minutes passed.

The staff also came to the backstage to arrange for two people to go up.

Once on the stage, Jenny talked about what happened backstage with a smile on her face.

Jenny then paused and continued, "I am honored to present this award with Li, the winner of the Venice Film Festival Grand Prize. I believe the organizer arranged for Li to present this Youth Film Award in order to encourage more outstanding young directors. The next grand prize winner may be you!"

The scene burst into applause.

Li Yishu naturally had to cooperate with others' praise, and immediately said with a smile: "Wow, Miss Jenny is so polite. But having said that, the organizer is really thoughtful to arrange Jenny, a beautiful British lady, for me..."

After complimenting each other, Jenny opened the envelope, but after seeing the difficult words, she glanced at Li Yishu and said, "Li, you make the announcement."

Li Yishu came over and took a look. He understood why the organizer arranged him. He first glanced at the scene and did not see Lai Shengchuan and others, so he said, "Let us congratulate the winner of the Youth Film Silver Kylin Award for "Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land". Congratulations to Director Lai Shengchuan!"

wow-

The audience burst into applause. Lai Shengchuan walked onto the stage excitedly: "Thank you Director Li, thank you so much!"

"Director Lai, you are too polite. This is what you deserve. I am the one who made the announcement."

Li Yishu smiled and guided the other party to take the trophy from Jenny's hand, and then gave the stage to the other party.

As Lai Shengchuan went to study in the United States, his English level is naturally good. After speaking in English, he excitedly said: "Thank you to the organizers and the jury for giving me this award. This is my first time directing a movie. I will keep working hard in the future!"

After the Youth Film Competition Unit awards were concluded.

The atmosphere at the scene began to become solemn, because next up was the main competition unit, with a total of 16 films competing against each other.

"Director Li, our Love Letter is worthy of an award, right?"

After hearing what Nakayama Mihui said, Li Yishu shook her head and said, "I'm not sure."

Kimura Takuya was the one who knew how to talk, and he immediately said with a smile: "No matter whether our Love Letter can win an award, Director Li will definitely win an award. With two films nominated, the organizer will definitely give Director Li an award."

Nakayama Mihui reacted and said hurriedly, "Yes, Director Li, you will definitely win the award."

“I hope I can win the prize.”

Li Yishu smiled and turned to look at the stage. The Best Screenplay Award was being presented at this time. The winner was a German film "Stonewall".

After a while, after the Best Actress award was presented, it was soon the turn of the Best Actor award.

"Wow! This is incredible!"

The female guest presenting the award on the stage looked at the contents of the envelope in her hand and exclaimed with her hands covering her mouth.

The male guest next to him came over to take a look and said, "Well, this is indeed a bit unexpected."

The two looked at each other and said together, "The winners of the Best Actor Award are Max von Sydow and Art Lee!"

Double yolk eggs!
There was an uproar at the scene, but this is a common occurrence.

Hearing the words on the stage, Nakayama Mihui shouted excitedly: "Director Li! You won the prize!"

"Congratulations, Director Li!"

There was envy in Kimura Takuya's eyes. He knew that Director Li won the Best Actor award for another film.

At this moment, Li Yishu was slightly stunned, and then a look of joy appeared on her face.

He never thought he would win the Best Actor award.

Who would have thought that he would win the Best Actor award at the Tokyo Film Festival just by chance?!
Although this award came a bit unexpectedly, winning it means that Lee Yi-su's performance in this movie impressed the jury.

"Max von Sydow, in his role as classical composer Henri Kastedt in Silent Contact, delivers a ..."

"In the movie 'That Mountain, That Man, That Dog', the role of the son played by Yishu Li perfectly shows the complex and sincere emotions between father and son..."

Along with the voice-over, Lee Yi-su also took to the stage with Swedish actor Max von Say.

Out of respect for the elderly, after receiving the trophy, Lee Yi-su let the other party give his acceptance speech first.

After the other party finished speaking, Li Yishu walked to the microphone and said excitedly:

"Before I came to the film festival, I had imagined myself winning the Best Director Award and the Golden Kirin Award, but I never thought I would win the Best Actor Award. This is really incredible to me."

"I am very grateful to the jury for their recognition of my acting skills. In the future, when directing, I will definitely continue to play the roles I like!"

(End of this chapter)