I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

There are five most popular film genres and special features at the Venice Film Festival.

First, narrative films that highlight artistry and authorialism.

The Venice Film Festival has always favored feature films with strong personal style, artistic exploration, and profound humanistic concern.

These types of films typically do not pursue commercial thrills, but instead focus on narrative depth, visual language, and thematic expression.

For example, Alfonso Cuarón's "Roma," an epic family story focusing on Mexican society in the 1970s, was shortlisted for the main competition and ultimately won the award for its exquisite black-and-white imagery and grand narrative scope.

Yorgos Lanthimos's "Beloved," which reconstructs history with unique dark humor and dramatic techniques, is also highly anticipated in the main competition.

The second category is biographical films and historical films adapted from true events or literary works.

Films based on real people or events, especially those that delve into the inner world of the characters and the historical context, often win the favor of the jury.

Damien Chazelle's "First Man" focuses on the journey of American astronaut Neil Armstrong to the moon. This serious portrayal of historical figures and events is a common theme in the Venice main competition.

Thirdly, films that focus on social issues and have humanistic depth.

Films that focus on social realities, explore complex human nature, or deal with historical trauma or political metaphors are more likely to spark discussion and gain recognition in Venice.

Fourth is the innovation and experimentation of genre films.

Although Venice primarily focuses on art films, it also encourages innovation and experimentation with genre films.

Works that combine elements of horror and suspense with artistic expression can sometimes bring surprises.

For example, Luca Guadagnino's remake of Suspiria explores art within the horror genre, and its unique style and the director's personal charisma have made it a hot topic.

The last one is a documentary.

The Venice Film Festival has a dedicated competition section for documentaries, and its status and attention have been steadily increasing in recent years, indicating that the jury is open to and appreciates high-quality documentaries.

Documentaries such as Franco Maresco's "Films Made for Carmelo Benedict" were shortlisted for the main competition, competing alongside feature films, demonstrating the jury's recognition of the artistic value of documentaries.

"Overall, the films that the Venice jury favors usually share the following characteristics: a strong auteur style, profound ideological content, exquisite artistic expression, and concern for social realities."

It tends to reward works that break new ground in cinematic language and provoke deep thought, rather than simply commercial entertainment films.

In front of hundreds of people, Cheng Sheng spoke eloquently, starting from the source to analyze how to win awards and what types of films would be welcomed by the Venice jury.

After this analysis and explanation, everyone present suddenly understood why Cheng Sheng won awards every time he participated in the European Film Festival—it was because he had thoroughly mastered the festival's procedures.

If they follow Cheng Sheng's approach and make a film that the Venice jury "likes," could they also win an award?
Even if you don't win a big prize, winning a small prize is still good.

At that moment, both directing students and acting students were captivated.

Regardless of whether it's feasible or not, they will do it whenever they have the opportunity.

Just by going to the Venice Film Festival, regardless of whether you win an award or not, your market value and fame will definitely increase.

It's a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.

"Senior, may I ask if the Cannes and Berlin Film Festivals are the same?"

A female student with a distinctive appearance raised her hand and asked a question.

Cheng Sheng glanced at her. This junior student wasn't conventionally beautiful; rather, she possessed a unique style that blended purity, ethereal charm, and allure. Her facial features, especially her eyes and lips, had a natural upward curve, giving her a sincere and lively impression.

At the same time, this upward curve gives her a kind of "cat-like" spirituality and charm.

With her fair complexion and cool temperament, she often doesn't need heavy makeup on the red carpet or other occasions; her natural beauty alone is enough to make her the center of attention, giving people a sense of elegance that is "beauty lies in the bones, not the skin."

Overall, this woman's appearance is characterized by her unique eye shape, delicate nose and lips, and outstanding skin texture, creating a personal style that combines innocence and allure.

If she were to become a star, just one good film would make her an instant sensation.

And this junior is really going to be a star.

In another memory, this woman was destined to be a top-tier female star in the entertainment industry, but still somewhat different from first-rate actresses.

Song Yi is a female celebrity who has become popular multiple times because of her cheongsam looks.

Song Yi's features are indeed very delicate, and more importantly, her skin tone is cool-toned and white.

This gives off a sense of aloofness and coldness, but her eyes also have a charming, rabbit-like quality, and she has the temperament of a first love, a white moonlight.

To be honest, Song Yi's path into the entertainment industry was quite accidental.

Her family has absolutely no connection to the entertainment industry; she comes from an ordinary family.

She was a student at the time, and the film crew happened to be filming at the school. The director took a liking to her at first glance, saying that this girl was quite attractive, and pulled her in for an audition.

Just like that, without really knowing what was going on, she got involved in the performing arts.

Later, she took it to heart, learning vocal music, practicing Mandarin, and even participating in hosting competitions to gain experience. Eventually, she was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama.

When she first graduated, she didn't have any shortcuts. She went to the theater to perform in plays and hone her basic skills little by little.

What truly made audiences remember her face was Li Shaohong's remake of "Dream of the Red Chamber." Although her role wasn't particularly significant, she at least became a familiar face to viewers.

At that time, her acting skills were already quite good, her delivery of lines was solid, and her voice was steady; she just hadn't encountered the opportunity that would make her an overnight sensation.

The turning point came quickly.

Yu Manli, who wore a cheongsam in "The Disguiser," was cold, beautiful, and ruthless. Her temperament immediately made the audience remember this "beauty of the Republic of China era."

Later, in "Joy of Life," Fan Ruoruo, with her scholarly air and cleverness, was very endearing, and this role completely left a mark on the audience's mind.

With these two dramas, she has finally established herself in the industry.

It's strange, but she always shines when she plays supporting roles, while she seems to lose some of her charm when she plays the lead.

Just like seasonings in a dish, a little bit enhances the flavor, but too much will overpower the main taste.

Moreover, Song Yi's state of mind is quite subtle.

She's not popular, yet she gets a constant stream of acting offers every year; but she's not exactly famous either, she's always just a little bit short of being truly popular.

She rarely trends on social media, doesn't participate in the battles for online popularity, and seldom appears in reality shows, yet she has new dramas released every year, sometimes as the female lead, taking on various genres including historical romance, urban drama, and spy thrillers. (End of Chapter)