In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

The morning after the Palme d'Or, the sun awoke very late.

The heavy curtains blocked out the Mediterranean sunlight, making the room dim.

He opened his eyes, momentarily disoriented, unsure of where he was, or whether the clamor and glory of the previous night were just a dream that felt too real.

Then he saw the golden palm leaf trophy on the bedside table, its outline still faintly visible in the dim light. A vivid sense of reality washed over him.

He sat up and rubbed his temples. Even with his energy and mindset, last night's celebratory dinner, the continuous congratulations, and the exciting team gathering had taken a toll on his mental state. At this moment, a hangover-like fatigue was faintly emerging.

But he didn't stay in bed. Instead, he got up and went into the bathroom, washing his body with warm water to awaken his dormant muscles and nerves. The boy in the mirror had a faint bluish tint under his eyes, but his gaze was bright, and his mental core remained stable.

After getting dressed, he walked to the window and drew back the curtains.

The morning in Cannes was sunny and bright, the sea shimmered, and the distant marina was peaceful and serene. After a night of revelry, the small city seemed to be taking a short break.

But Yang Guang knew perfectly well that for him and his team, the real "work" had only just begun.

Awards bring more than just honor; they also bring tangible commercial value and a series of complex follow-up matters.

The phone vibrated on the bedside table. Yang Guangming answered it; it was Duan Yunfeng.

"Guangming, are you awake? How was your rest?" Duan Yunfeng's voice sounded energetic, indicating that he had already started working.

"I'm fine. Is something the matter?"

"There are a few things I need to confirm with you."

Duan Yunfeng spoke quickly, “First, regarding the copyright negotiations in North America, several publishing companies that are interested in competing for the rights have raised their offers and hope to arrange a meeting today.”

Secondly, Director Han made two more phone calls from China, eager to discuss the release arrangements with you.

Third, some media outlets in mainland China and Hong Kong and Taiwan want to conduct overseas telephone interviews, and I have already selected a few of the most influential media outlets.

Fourth, there is an officially scheduled press conference this afternoon for the award-winning films, which requires the attendance of all the main cast and crew.

As Yang Guangming listened, he walked to the small study in the suite and sat down at the desk.

"The North American copyright negotiations are scheduled for 7 PM this afternoon, after the press conference. The venue is the hotel conference room; please book it as soon as possible." Yang Guangming made a quick decision. "I'll call Director Han back later. For media interviews, arrange a concentrated time for telephone interviews, from 10 AM to 11 AM this morning, with each interview limited to 15 minutes. For the press conference, inform Professor Chen and the others to attend on time."

"Understood," Duan Yunfeng replied, adding, "In addition, the senior management of Pathé would like to have lunch with you at noon, partly to celebrate, and partly to discuss the specific promotional plans for the European release."

"Okay, you can arrange it."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming called Han Sanping back.

The call was answered almost instantly, and Han Sanping's booming voice, brimming with barely suppressed excitement, pierced through the receiver: "Guangming! My great director! You finally called back! How are things? Did you get drunk from the celebration drinks? Hahaha!"

Yang Guangming could imagine Han Sanping's beaming face at that moment, and couldn't help but laugh: "Director Han, your voice sounds even more energetic than mine."

"How could I not be excited?" Han Sanping lowered his voice even more, but his excitement was not diminished at all. "I haven't slept a wink since last night! The phone has been ringing off the hook, from leaders, colleagues, the media... all of them are congratulating me!"

Han Sanping said earnestly, "The leaders all specifically mentioned you on the phone, the seventeen-year-old Palme d'Or-winning director. This is not only a cinematic achievement, but also a cultural event! It's incredibly significant!"

He paused, then his voice became even more fervent: "Guangming, we must strike while the iron is hot and release this film in China as soon as possible! I've already had an emergency meeting with the distribution company, and we've tentatively set it for June 6th. A lucky number, what do you think?"

June 6th is less than ten days away. It's a tight schedule, but for a film that has just won the highest honor and is generating unprecedented buzz, it's the perfect time to release it.

"I have no objection, Director Han, you can make the decision." Yang Guangming trusted Han Sanping's experience in distribution.

"Alright! It's settled then!" Han Sanping made the decision. "I plan to make the premiere a grand affair. Our film deserves that level of fanfare! We'll combine the celebration with the premiere, inviting all the leaders, celebrities, and media we can to create a big buzz!"

Yang Guangming had no objection to this. He knew that in this era, the international accolades a film received needed to be translated into influence and box office success through a grand ceremony domestically. This was also another form of affirmation for the team's efforts.

"You and your team can discuss the specific arrangements. I will definitely be there if my cooperation is needed," Yang Guangming said.

"Don't worry about the specifics. Just focus on being a great director and show up in a smart suit!" Han Sanping laughed. "By the way, how's the copyright negotiation going? I heard the competition in North America is fierce?"

"Final negotiations will take place this afternoon. The situation looks very good so far."

"That's good! That's good!" Han Sanping said repeatedly. "Our film needs to win the highest artistic award and also be a huge commercial success! That would be perfect! Guangming, you are a lucky charm and a genius!"

After exchanging a few more words about specific details, Yang Guangming hung up the phone.

He walked into the living room, where the Palme d'Or and the Camera d'Or stood side by side on the coffee table, gleaming in the morning light. He gazed at them quietly for a while, feeling little emotion.

The honors are in the past; every step from now on requires a calmer mind and more solid work.

At 10:00 a.m., the overseas telephone interview arranged by Duan Yunfeng began on time.

The first call came from a reporter from CCTV's movie channel. The questions mainly focused on his feelings about winning the award, the creative process, and his outlook on the future of Chinese cinema. Yang Guangming's answers were, as always, appropriate, humble, and insightful.

Next was an interview with the Arts and Literature Department of the People's Daily, where the questions focused more on the social significance and cultural value of film. Yang Guangming started with the moral dilemmas explored in "A Separation" and discussed the unique role of film as an art form in recording the times and stimulating reflection.

Hong Kong Island ATV is its own media outlet, so the interview atmosphere is the best, and Yang Guangming talks the most.

The Ming Pao reporter focused more on his personal growth and future plans, with questions including questions about his family background. Yang Guangming skillfully steered the conversation back to the film itself, only briefly mentioning his family's support, while emphasizing his creative process.

The interviews with several authoritative media outlets went smoothly. Yang Guangming displayed a composure and clear logic beyond his years, leaving a deep impression on the reporters.

They could sense that the young director was exceptionally clear-headed and had not been overwhelmed by the sudden and immense honor.

After the interview, Yang Guangming and his team had a simple lunch at the hotel restaurant. Everyone was in good spirits; although tired, their eyes shone with light. The exhilaration of winning the Palme d'Or was enough to sustain them through the upcoming packed schedule.

Shortly after lunch, the Pathé executive arrived as scheduled. He was a debonair French gentleman in his fifties named Jean-Pierre.

He was full of praise for "A Separation" and expressed confidence in its future European release plans.

“Yang, the Palme d'Or is the best advertisement,” Jean-Pierre said. “And your age is another huge talking point. We have a complete publicity plan, starting with art-house cinemas and gradually expanding to mainstream theaters. We don’t need to worry about critics’ word-of-mouth; the positive reviews during the film festival are enough. What we need to do now is get more ordinary viewers into the cinemas.”

Yang Guangming listened attentively, occasionally asking questions. He had some understanding of the European art film market and knew that Pathé, as a long-established distribution company, possessed valuable experience and channels.

"In terms of promotion, we can appropriately highlight the universal emotional conflicts in the film, rather than just the moral dilemmas," Yang Guangming suggested. "Family, responsibility, and choice are themes that audiences all over the world can resonate with."

Jean-Pierre nodded in agreement: "That's exactly what we're thinking. The film's visual style is calm and restrained, but its emotional core is very strong. We will capitalize on that in our promotion."

The two sides had a very pleasant conversation. Pathé secured the European rights in advance, which now appears to be an extremely worthwhile deal. Meanwhile, Sunshine Films also benefited from Pathé's influence, gaining strong support during the film festival. This was a win-win collaboration.

At 3 p.m., an official press conference for the award-winning films was held in a medium-sized conference room at the Palais des Festivals.

Almost all the creators of this year's major award-winning films were present. The Palme d'Or winner "A Separation," the Grand Jury Prize winners "Underground" and "Ulysses' Gaze," and the winners of Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress... all gathered together.

The cast and crew of "A Separation" were naturally the focus of the entire event. When Yang Guangming led Chen Daoming, Xi Meijuan, Siqin Gaowa, Zhou Xun, Gu Changwei, and others into the venue, the flashbulbs went off at an all-time high.

The reporters bombarded him with questions in a cacophony of languages. Yang Guangming, as the director and core member of the team, answered most of them. He remained composed, switching seamlessly between English, French, and Chinese, providing thoughtful and sincere responses to each question.

Actors Chen Daoming and Xi Meijuan also shared their understanding of the film and their feelings about winning the award. Their speeches were insightful and sincere, demonstrating the professionalism and demeanor of actors.

Although young and a little nervous, Zhou Xun gradually relaxed under the encouragement of Yang Guangming's gaze, expressing her gratitude for participating in the film and her expectations for her future acting career in simple and sincere language. Her naivety and sincerity won her a lot of goodwill.

The press conference lasted for more than an hour. Even at the end, many reporters, still eager for more, surrounded the cast and crew of "A Separation" to continue asking questions.

It was already evening when we got back to the hotel.

After a short break, another round of North American copyright negotiations began.

After "A Separation" won the Palme d'Or, the distribution companies vying for the North American rights all increased their bids.

After this round of negotiations, Miramax and Fox Searchlight showed the most sincerity, and the final choice for the remaining negotiations will depend on Sunshine's decision.

The first day after winning the award passed by so quickly.

...While Yang Guangming was busy in Cannes, the news spread like wildfire, crossing oceans the moment the Palme d'Or was awarded, creating an unprecedented media frenzy across China at the end of May.

The official media's response was swift and solemn.

The People's Daily published a report on its front page in the lower right corner the following day, which was also the headline of the culture section, titled "Chinese film 'A Separation' wins the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival."

The article, written in a rigorous and restrained style, introduces the Cannes Film Festival's status as one of the world's three major film festivals, briefly outlines the story synopsis and creative team of "A Separation," and emphasizes the significance of this award:
"This marks the second time a Chinese film has won the highest honor at Cannes since 'Farewell My Concubine,' signifying the continuous improvement of the artistic creation level of Chinese films and the further expansion of their international influence. It is another important achievement of our country's literary and artistic workers in adhering to the 'serving the people and serving socialism' direction and the 'letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend' policy, going deep into life and taking root among the people."

The Xinhua News Agency's press release was reprinted by major newspapers and periodicals across the country.

CCTV's "News Broadcast" aired this news for a full minute and a half at 7 p.m. that evening.

The footage included clips of Yang Guangming accepting an award at Cannes, as well as a trailer for the film "A Separation".

The announcer's clear and resonant voice carried to every household: "...Director Yang Guangming, at only seventeen years old, won the Palme d'Or, the highest award at the 48th Cannes Film Festival, for his debut film 'A Separation,' setting a record as the youngest director to win the Palme d'Or in the festival's history..."

The official stance and publicity set a solemn yet enthusiastic tone for this uproar.

This is not just a victory for a film, but also seen as another brilliant showcase of China's soft power on the international stage.

Following closely behind, reports from market-driven media and entertainment publications swept across all pages like a tsunami, offering diverse perspectives and sensationalizing the story to the fullest extent.

The front-page headline of the Kyoto Youth Daily was: "Seventeen Years Old! Palme d'Or! A New Myth of Chinese Cinema is Born!"

The article details Yang Guangming's legendary journey from top scorer in the college entrance examination to Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival, and then to director who won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, calling it "a genius trajectory unparalleled in the history of Chinese cinema."

The special report in the China Film News was more professional, titled "The Power of Calmness: Analyzing Why 'A Separation' Conquered Cannes".

The article analyzes the film's success from multiple dimensions, including the script, directing techniques, acting, and cinematography. It also cites the evaluations of several international authoritative film critics, who believe that the film "profoundly explores a moral dilemma with universal value through the unique subtlety and restraint of the East, and its artistic achievement is astonishing."

The long feature article "Yang Guangming: A Boy Chosen by the Times" published by Southern Weekly places Yang Guangming in a larger socio-cultural context, exploring the individual characteristics, family support, opportunities of the times, and symbolic significance of his phenomenal success to the younger generation in China.

"He seems to encapsulate all the imaginations of an era regarding talent, youth, and success," the article wrote. "Every step he took was at the forefront of public opinion, yet he always walked through it with a composure beyond his years."

Although online forums have not yet become mainstream in this era, university BBS and early portal website discussion forums have already been flooded with related topics.

"Seventeen-year-old Palme d'Or" has become the most popular phrase.

Amazement, admiration, curiosity, analysis, and even some complex emotions of envy and jealousy intertwine and collide in the virtual space.

The media will not be satisfied with simply reporting on the events themselves. They need voices, and they need various reactions and interpretations from both inside and outside the industry.

As a result, interview requests poured in like snowflakes to everyone involved in film, including well-known filmmakers and critics.

In interviews after returning to China, Zhang Yimou was asked about his views on this matter multiple times.

He always smiled broadly and answered sincerely and generously: "This is a great event for Chinese cinema! Guangming is exceptionally talented, and winning the Palme d'Or is well-deserved."

We old folks are overjoyed and full of anticipation to see how outstanding the young people are. This shows that Chinese cinema has promising successors and a bright future!

His words were widely quoted, creating a positive image of a senior mentoring a junior.

When Jiang Wen received the reporter's call, she was making the final push for the domestic release of "In the Heat of the Sun." At that time, the film had finally passed censorship and was about to be scheduled for release.

He laughed loudly into the microphone: "I told you this kid was no ordinary person! The Palme d'Or? I wouldn't be surprised at all if it were him! Just you wait and see, the real show is yet to come!"

His words were as outspoken and direct as ever, full of support for his younger brother.

Professor Xie Fei, as Yang Guangming's mentor, was naturally the focus of the interview.

He received wave after wave of reporters in his office at the Beijing Film Academy.

"Guangming's greatest strengths are his focus and clarity of mind." Xie Fei was very patient with every reporter. "He is talented, but what's even more remarkable is that he knows how to use his talent and is willing to put in tremendous effort to solidify his foundation. This Palme d'Or is the culmination of his hard work and talent, and also an important affirmation of his film philosophy. As his teacher, I am incredibly proud of him."

However, not all industry reactions were purely joyful and congratulatory.

In an elegant teahouse in Kyoto, director Chen Kaige felt rather complicated.

Two years ago, his film "Farewell My Concubine" shared the Palme d'Or at Cannes with New Zealand director Jane Campion's "The Piano." Although it was a supreme honor, the term "double yolk" always made some people who pursue ultimate perfection feel a little regretful.

That was the first time a Chinese film had touched the Palme d'Or, and as the director, he was naturally recorded in history and enjoyed endless glory.

Just two years later, a seventeen-year-old boy won the Palme d'Or with his first film.

The news' popularity, its topicality, and the legendary aura of being the "youngest in history" instantly swept across everything.

When reporting on these issues, the media inevitably juxtaposes and compares the two.

When familiar reporters, or media outlets seeking to uncover dissenting voices, approached Chen Kaige to ask for his opinion on Yang Guangming's award, Chen Kaige maintained his composure and calmly stated:

"Congratulations to Director Yang Guangming and the crew of 'A Separation'. It is remarkable for a young director to achieve such success, and it is a blessing for Chinese cinema. I hope he can remain humble and continue to create even more outstanding works."

His words were impeccable, a standard of encouragement from a senior to a junior.

But only those close to him could catch a glimpse of a faint sense of loss and regret in his slightly stammering eyes—a feeling perhaps not of jealousy, but of being unexpectedly interrupted and being approached and even surpassed in some ways by someone who came later in such a dazzling manner.

History is being broken so quickly, and the spotlight is shifting so rapidly that even a magnanimous director cannot help but feel a ripple in his heart.

He might not be able to help but think, what if he had enjoyed it all by himself back then... what if "A Separation" had been written a few years later... but history has no "what ifs".

Sunny and his Palme d'Or have become the most dazzling fact of the moment.

The media is happy to capture and present this subtle contrast. Although they won't say it explicitly, their words have already placed the two Palme d'Or directors in a narrative framework that connects the past and the future.

The Beijing Film Academy campus was once again engulfed in celebration. The jubilation was even greater than when Yang Guangming won the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival last year.

More than one giant red banner was hung at the school gate, in front of the main teaching building, and in front of the library.

"Warmest congratulations to Yang Guangming, a student from our Directing Department, on winning the Palme d'Or at the 48th Cannes International Film Festival for his film 'A Separation'!"

"The light of Beijing Film Academy shines again – Congratulations to Yang Guangming on winning the highest honor at Cannes!"

The gold background with red lettering is particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

During breaks and after meals, students gathered under the banner, excitedly discussing it. A sense of pride permeated every corner of the campus.

The students in the directing department stood tall with pride, and Yang Guangming became their role model. His success greatly boosted the morale of the entire faculty and students, and once again proved the Beijing Film Academy's "discerning eye" and "boldness" in talent cultivation.

The offices of Principal Liu Guodian, Director of the Directing Department Xie Fei, and other leaders once again saw a surge in visits.

Congratulatory telegrams from higher authorities, well wishes from sister universities, media interview requests... Liu Guodian was busy, but the smile on his face was more relaxed and confident than last year.

The decision to recruit Yang Guangming despite opposition at the time seems, in retrospect, to be one of the most commendable decisions in the history of the Beijing Film Academy.

This student not only brought honor to the school, but also, to some extent, reshaped the image of Beijing Film Academy in the public and professional fields—Beijing Film Academy can not only cultivate excellent actors, but also produce world-class directorial geniuses.

……

The news that "A Separation" won the Palme d'Or at Cannes was like a boulder thrown into the lake of the international market, and the ripples it created quickly transformed into a real and surging commercial wave. All distributors could see the value of the film's copyright.

Those distributors who had been taking a wait-and-see approach or offering relatively conservative prices during the film festival could no longer sit still.

The North American rights, in particular, which have the greatest commercial potential, have become the focus of competition.

In a hotel conference room in Cannes, Duan Yunfeng was surrounded by a mountain of faxes and phone records. Yang Guangming had authorized him to be fully responsible for the subsequent copyright negotiations, but major decisions and the final approval still required Yang Guangming's personal approval.

Currently, the two companies that have shown the strongest interest in North American rights and have the most substantial resources are Miramax Films and Fox Searchlight Pictures.

After numerous meetings, it's time to make a final decision. (End of Chapter)