Huayu: Director started with art films

At seven o'clock in the evening.

At this moment, the Cannes Film Palace is filled with crews and filmmakers from all over the world.

With the host's opening remarks, the closing awards ceremony of the 1995th Cannes International Film Festival officially began in May 5.

There have been some changes to the Cannes Film Festival this year. It will no longer hold awards as in the past, but will be divided into three sections and held one after another.

First, it opens with the Youth Film Awards section.

There are five awards in total: the Foreign Film Youth Award, the French Film Youth Award, the FIPRESCI Award, the Technical Grand Prix, and the Catholic Humanitarian Award.

"And the winner of the Technical Award is..."

The guest on the stage glanced at the envelope in his hand and said, "Congratulations to the crew of Rock and Roll, Rock to Grandma's Bridge, Zhang Yimou!"

"Director Zhang won an award?"

Sylvia Chang looked at Li Yishu in surprise. She didn't expect that Zhang Yimou would win the technical award.

"Yes, I won a prize, but this prize..."

It's a bit difficult for Li Yishu to say, as he knows, the Youth Film Award unit is an award to encourage young directors and to comfort foreigners.

In the movie "Grandma's Bridge", Lee Ye-su really can't see any technology to speak of. As for photography technology, the movie "The Night of the Lost Children" that he had seen before is more suitable. At least in terms of photography technology, the other party used it more frequently.

But winning an award is definitely a good thing. Seeing Zhang Yimou smiling as he went up to the stage to receive the award, Li Yishu began to applaud.

After the Youth Film Award unit ends, the Film Critics Week unit will begin.

This year's Cannes Film Critics Week is different from the past, and this year's awards ceremony will be more grand.

Because the organizers of the Cannes International Film Festival have officially formed a cooperative relationship with the Cannes Film Critics Association.

Golden Track Award, CANAL+ TV Award, Golden Camera Award (Directorial Debut), Special Honor Award.

Another thing that Li Yishu did not expect was the Mercedes-Benz Award.

It seems that this year's Cannes Film Festival is really about making money and also starting to increase the reputation of advertisers.

A film called "Meet the 100% Girl" won the Mercedes-Benz Award.

Li Yishu sniffed and realized that her decision was right. She no longer had to come to the European Film Festival so often. She could just go to the United States to make commercial films instead.

Soon we arrived at the main competition unit.

A staff member came to Li Yishu's seat, and he followed the other person to the backstage.

He will present the Special Jury Award today.

According to Li Yishu's estimation, Zhang Yimou's chances of winning the grand prize are very low.

Because now the Short Film Jury Award is being presented on stage, and then the Short Film Palme d'Or will be presented. After these two short films, the Special Jury Award will be presented...

As for this award, excluding the two short film awards, it is the last award in the entire main competition unit.

"Hello Lee!"

When Li Yishu heard someone calling her, she turned around and was slightly stunned. Sophie Marceau?

He held out his hand: “Hello Sophie Marceau!”

"Just call me Sophie."

Sophie Marceau said with a smile: "I didn't expect that you would be the one presenting the award with me. I love your movie The Reader so much. I watched it no less than three times. The implicit oriental expression of love really interests me."

Li Yishu said, "I also like the two parts of "First Kiss" you filmed. This movie was my favorite movie when I was a teenager."

He thought to himself: There's also "Wild Love"!
Nineteen-year-old Sophie Marceau made a bold appearance in this film, and Lee Yi-su was almost stunned when she saw it for the first time.

Is this still the innocent girl in "First Kiss"?

The two chatted happily backstage. Sophie Marceau, who is only 29 years old this year, has maintained pretty good skin. Although the baby fat on her face has faded and she no longer has the girlish look she once had, she has gained more charm of a mature woman.

Looking at the graceful Sophie now, Li Yishu couldn't help but recall the scene on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival 20 years later, when Sophie's shoulder strap accidentally slipped off, revealing a shriveled water bag.

It's true that beauty fades with age!

Sophie now has a beautiful face and a good figure.

Time passes little by little.

About ten minutes later, a staff member came running over and said, "Li, Marceau, you can go on stage now."

Li Yishu extended his hand politely, and Sophie smiled and took out her left hand and placed it on his hand. The two walked side by side towards the backstage exit.

The moment the two stood on the stage, the guests in the audience burst into applause.

Li Yishu politely let Sophie speak first, but she declined and walked over to the podium, saying, "It's an honor to be on the award ceremony stage in Cannes..."

After a while of talking, Li Yishu went over and said a few words, and then he handed the envelope to Sophie.

Sophie opened the envelope and Li Yishu took a look. As expected, the English title of the book was "Grandma's Bridge".

Li Yishu glanced at the audience, but because of the backlight, she couldn't find the specific location of Zhang Yimou and others.

"The winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 1995th Cannes International Film Festival in 48 is..."

Sophie kept it a secret and said with a smile, "Li, I think you should say this."

The moviegoers in the audience were instantly in an uproar.

Let Li Yishu say, doesn't that mean the award-winning crew should also be from China?

Gong Li said: "Director Zhang, it looks like either you or Director Waiting will win the award."

"Yes."

Zhang Yimou gritted his teeth. He was not a fool. What Sophie Marceau said meant that it was obvious that the award went to the Chinese crew, and this year's nominees were only him and Hou Hsiao-xian.

Deep down, he hoped that Hou Xiaoxian would win the award so that he could win the big prize later.

But to his disappointment, Li Yishu first mentioned the winning crew in English, and then said in Chinese: "Congratulations, Director Zhang!"

"Clap clap clap!"

There was thunderous applause from the audience. Zhang Yimou hugged and shook hands with the main creative staff with a smile, and then strode onto the stage.

During the short minute he stepped onto the stage, Zhang Yimou felt mixed emotions.

The Special Jury Prize sounds very impressive, but it is actually just a consolation prize because there is also a Jury Prize and a Grand Jury Prize above it.

The five best awards at Cannes are the Palme d'Or, the Grand Jury Prize, Best Director, and Best Actor and Actress.

Although he had already won the Grand Jury Prize last year for "To Live", Zhang Yimou could accept winning it again this year. But who would have thought it would be such an award.

What Zhang Yimou didn't know was that if he hadn't asked Li Yishu for public relations, he would have only won a technical award this year.
"Congratulations, Director Zhang." Li Yishu extended her hand.

"thanks, thanks."

Zhang Yimou "happily" shook hands with Li Yishu, and gave Sophie Marceau a polite hug before he began his acceptance speech.

Perhaps he was not very satisfied with the result, Zhang Yimou was not very enthusiastic and did not say much. He just thanked the crew and the organizers, then left with the trophy.

Backstage.

"Li!" Sophie Marceau called Li Yishu. In his puzzled look, Sophie said, "My latest movie, Brave Heart, will be released in Paris, France tomorrow night. There will be a grand premiere. Can I invite you to attend?"

"Brave Heart" was released in the UK a few days ago. The film is a story about an ancient Scottish hero directed and acted by American actor Mel Gibson.

Li Yishu has seen this movie and he remembers it seemed to have won the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

"Tomorrow?"

Looking at the enthusiastic Sophie, Li Yishu thought for a while and said hesitantly: "I'm not sure if I have time tomorrow night. I can only give you an answer tomorrow morning."

"It's ok."

Sophie Marceau called her assistant, took out a business card from her bag and handed it to Li Yishu: "This is my business card. I will fly to Paris tonight. If you have time, you are welcome to come to the premiere."

"No problem, I'll call you whether I go or not."

Li Yishu readily took the other party's business card.

After coming out from the backstage, Li Yishu returned to the award ceremony venue in front.

"Director Li, I didn't expect that the person presenting the award with you would be Sophie Marceau!"

Zhang Aijia's eyes were burning as she asked, "Why didn't you tell us before?"

“I only found out after I went backstage.”

“How is it, seeing Sophie Marceau up close, is she more beautiful than in the movie?”

"Okay."

"..."

The award ceremony ended quickly.

This year, the two Chinese crews both suffered terrible results. Compared with last year, it can be said to be horrible.

Last year at least there were Best Director, the Grand Jury Prize, Best Actor, and the Critics' Week Award.

This year, only Zhang Yimou's "Grandma's Bridge" won the Technical Award and the Special Jury Award, while Hou Xiaoxian won nothing.

But being nominated for the annual Cannes Film Festival is, in a sense, a success?

It was around nine o'clock in the evening.

The winning crew will attend a dinner in Cannes.

Since Li Yishu didn't go, Gong Li naturally didn't go either. Instead, Sylvia Chang brought Rene Liu and followed Zhang Yimou's crew to have a look and see if there were any international film producers who were interested in her movie.

Instead of going back to the hotel directly, the two strolled through the streets of the town of Cannes.

The small town of Cannes is still brightly lit at night, and a large number of tourists gather near the Film Palace, waiting for the award ceremony to end.

Outside the Cinema Palace, there were countless young people on the outer streets, drinking and singing with their friends.

Gong Li raised her eyebrows: "Sophie Marceau invited you to attend the premiere of her movie?"

"Yeah, the Paris premiere tomorrow night."

"Then are you going or not?"

"go with!"

Hearing this, Gong Li was a little jealous and said, "Yes, that's Sophie Marceau, who became famous all over the world with "First Kiss". You are a big director who has won three European awards. You may have a chance to win this French rose!"

Li Yishu looked at her blankly, then burst into laughter.

Gong Li was immediately confused by his smile and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"I didn't expect Sister Gong Li to be jealous. You are the Emperor Gong!"

"Who told you I was jealous? Go find your French Rose."

"Haha, aren't you jealous?"

Li Yishu smiled and saw that Gong Li was a little jealous, so she explained with a smile: "I went to participate mainly for the Shanghai International Film Festival."

Gong Li responded: "You want to invite Sophie Marceau to attend?"

"Yes!"

Li Yishu nodded: "I have invited John, chairman of the Film Critics Week, and Abraham, chairman of the Venice Film Critics Week. In addition to these two, I have also invited Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski (director of the Red, Yellow and Blue trilogy)..."

Li Yishu has met many foreign directors in Europe in recent years. This year, he serves as the chairman of the jury of the Shanghai Film Festival. Even if it is just a figurehead, he is doing things under his name, so naturally he has to make the film festival look real.

Originally, there were only two or three visitors to the second Shanghai Film Festival, and few of them were famous. Some European directors were invited, but ordinary audiences didn't know these directors at all.

This also led to the second Shanghai Film Festival, like the first, not causing much response at home or abroad.

However, the third Shanghai Film Festival in 1997 was star-studded, with many overseas film actors and celebrities attending.

Compared to those unknown European film directors, Li Yishu believes that the public is more interested in seeing European and American celebrity actors.

Sophie Marceau is still quite well-known in China. If she could be invited to participate, it would definitely be more beneficial than harmful.

The show is star-studded, and it also indirectly showcases Lee Ye-su's network of contacts abroad. When the Asian Film Awards are finalized, I believe they will not be stingy with their support.

"We have to go there." Gong Li nodded.

Li Yishu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have no interest in the French Rose. I am only interested in the Empress Dowager of the Liao Dynasty."

"Virtue!"

Gong Li rolled her eyes at him charmingly, then glanced at the street and said, "Forget it, there's nothing to do. Let's go back to the hotel early. I guess we have to negotiate with those international film producers tomorrow."

"I'm afraid it's difficult to negotiate Director Zhang's copyright fee this time."

"Yeah, how come I only got a Special Jury Award!"

"This shows that the Cannes Film Festival is beginning to disfavor Chinese films."

Li Yishu was not sure what award "Grandma's Bridge" won in her previous life, but it was definitely not as good as this one.

Gong Li was puzzled: "You don't like Chinese movies?"

"Since 1988, when Director Zhang's Red Sorghum won the Berlin Golden Bear Award, Chinese films have been on the map in Europe."

Li Yishu smiled and said, "Since then, in less than ten years, how many Golden Bears, Golden Lions and Palmes have Chinese filmmakers won?"

"Director Zhang won the Golden Bear and the Golden Lion, Li An won two Golden Bears, and Director Xie Fei won one Golden Bear. Who else won your three Golden Lions?"

“And the Golden Lion Award for Taiwan director Tsai Ming-liang!”

Li Yishu raised her fingers and made a nine gesture: "A total of 9 top awards, not counting my Director Award, Silver Lion Award, Best Actor, Best Actress, and the Grand Jury Award!"

"From 1988 to last year 1994, in just six years, the three major film festivals were held a total of 18 times, and our Chinese filmmakers won nine grand prizes, as well as second prizes, actor awards, etc."

Since Zhang Yimou failed to win a good award after this public relations, Li Yishu realized that the filter of Chinese films in Europe is about to be lost.

This may be related to the introduction of Hollywood blockbusters into the mainland, or it may be related to the trend in Europe in the past two years.

But no matter which one it is, Li Yishu is able to remain invincible in the domestic and even international film industry with the three awards. (End of this chapter)