Huayu02 started by making films.

Han Yi glanced furtively at the crowd, a satisfied look on his face. He had made them cry earlier; now it was time to make them laugh. He composed himself and continued:

"To live up to my family's support, I returned to school with the mindset of 'no madness, no life,' and started preparing for the short film. This time, it seems like even God was on my side, with Jiang Wen and Jiang Wu making guest appearances."

The literature professors were a great help to me; the photography professors were also willing to lend me their equipment.

"Persistence pays off! This March, I finally finished filming this short film and sent it to Cannes, hoping to gain the recognition of the Cannes filmmakers!"

"Splash splash splash—"

"Han! You're the best!"

"Han! Come here quickly, I want to take good care of you."

The audience erupted in applause. Han Yi watched as men and women alike rose to their feet to cheer and applaud for him. He almost couldn't resist raising his right arm to a 45-degree angle, thinking to himself: This won't work here. I'll wait until I get to Berlin.

David Lynch listened from the audience, inwardly cursing:

"Why the hell didn't you say so sooner! The film festival closes tomorrow. If you had told me earlier, I would have found a special theater for you to watch it for more than ten days straight, and I would have made sure it was a huge hit."

Young people are still too shy. You should write down your experiences and send them over along with a copy. But it's okay, tonight is the real battle with the judges for the award. I'll definitely win one for you and make you leave with a smile.

Zhao Tao nudged Section Chief Jia beside him with his elbow: "Han Yi didn't tell you the truth because he considers you his senior. Young people don't want to appear timid in front of their elders."

Section Chief Jia sighed, "Yes, my junior brother doesn't treat me like an outsider, that's why he's unwilling to talk about these things."

"I'll introduce him to the film company properly later."

"Okay, okay!"

The applause lasted a long time, and it was only after Han Yi helped Emma regain control of the situation that the atmosphere gradually calmed down. Fortunately, his film was the longest and was the last one to be screened.

The movie premiere is finally over.

Emma looked at Han Yi on stage, her blue eyes almost bulging with tears. She never imagined that this young director had such an unknown story behind him.

Robert led the group of independent filmmakers onto the stage, each embracing Han Yi and shouting, "Han! You are a role model for us independent filmmakers!"

Han Yi thanked them one by one.

Michelle Yeoh arrived with David Lynch. This actress, nearing forty and in the prime of her maternal years, immediately went up to Han Yi, hugged him, and praised him:

"My child, you are the pride of Chinese cinema! I am so happy for you!"

After saying that, she cupped Han Yi's face in her hands, kissed him on the left and then on the right, before reluctantly leaving the screening room.

Section Chief Jia brought Zhao Tao over for a hug. This time, Sister Tao didn't kiss him; her husband was watching from the side.

Immediately afterwards, Han Shanping also came over and offered a few words of encouragement. Clearly, the old man didn't believe Han Yi's nonsense.

Han Yi chuckled and laughed with Han Shanping, watching him leave the screening room, since there were many people behind and they would have to wait in line.

……

The following morning, May 26, was the last day of the film festival.

Han Yi was woken up by a phone call from a film festival staff member, who informed him that his short film had been shortlisted for the closing ceremony awards, but that he should not announce it to the public for the time being.

However, the organizing committee hopes that he can screen "I'm glad you're dead now" for another morning in the second largest screening room, the Debussy Hall, and share his story with the Cannes audience.

Han Yi readily agreed, and after explaining the situation to Teacher Dai, the two went to the Lumière Hall together.

After talking all morning, Han Yi was hoarse, since the film was only thirteen minutes long.

From eight o'clock to eleven o'clock, the story was played seven or eight times. After each play, he would go on stage and retell his story with the old ox, which made the audience's emotions rise and fall.

The women in the audience, whether they were of French, Germanic, Latin, or even Chinese descent, were overcome with maternal instincts and wished they could rush onto the stage, wrap Han Yi up tightly, and devour him.

Han Yi was busy until mealtime before he was able to get away. He didn't even eat when he got back to the hotel. He set an alarm and went straight to sleep.

At four o'clock in the evening, Han Yi got up to wash up, styled his hair in the same way as yesterday, and put on the suit without any dark patterns.

Once everything was ready, he and Teacher Dai went out together, got into the limousine, and drove along the coastal road toward the long red carpet.

When Han Yi walked the red carpet at the last opening ceremony, he was a handsome young man who had just started out. He had no female companion, and only a few photographers who were tired of shooting white people attacked him with a few shots.

But this time was different. As soon as Han Yi got out of the car, Emma, ​​dressed in a gown, walked gracefully over. She was arranged by the Cannes Film Festival staff to accompany Han Yi on the closing ceremony red carpet.

As for Teacher Dai... well, go cool off by yourself.

Emma gently took Han Yi's arm. As soon as the two stepped onto the red carpet, reporters hoisted their cameras and started snapping photos of Han Yi as if they were free.

After crossing the red carpet, you'll reach the venue for the awards ceremony—the Lumière Hall, the main hall of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

The Lumière Hall, named after the Lumière brothers who invented cinema, can accommodate about 2,300 people and is the largest screening room in Cannes.

The films Han Yi had previously watched, "The Pianist" and "A Man Without a Past," were being screened here.

Upon entering the venue, Han Yi discovered that his seat was arranged next to Section Chief Jia and his wife. With Emma on his arm, he felt a little awkward and went over to greet them.

"Unknown Pleasures" was also nominated for the Palme d'Or in the main competition, but Director Jia probably didn't receive a phone call to inform him.

Section Chief Jia winked at Han Yi furtively and lowered his voice, "Shall we go check on that again tonight?"

Han Yi was taken aback: "Which one?"

"Who else could it be? Didn't you take me there?" Section Chief Jia exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh...that? I'm not going anymore, I've given it up." Han Yi said frankly.

"I don't believe you! Who else could it be but you sneaking in like that the night before last?" Section Chief Jia clicked his tongue twice.

"Weren't you with Sister Tao that day too...?"

"Alright, alright, stop talking!" Section Chief Jia quickly interrupted, "The closing ceremony has begun."

It was the same host from the opening ceremony, holding the microphone and reading the opening remarks.

The 2002 Cannes Film Festival can be considered a watershed moment for the three major European film festivals. Before that, the festivals had few awards, not enough to go around; afterwards, the number of awards increased with each edition, and the festivals gradually began to "share the spoils" like some "fake awards" in China, striving to ensure that "everyone who comes gets an award."

After the opening remarks, the film "Gentlemen and Ladies Now" by French director Claude Lelouch was screened as the closing film.

The awards ceremony officially began at 7 p.m. French time.

First came the Film Foundation's second and third prizes, followed by the Golden Track Award and the French Culture Award, and then the Chopin Award for Best New Actress and Actor.

Han Yi watched the men and women go on stage to receive their awards, thinking to himself, "There are awards for new actresses and actors, why not an award for new director?"

Just as I was getting distracted, the host introduced the award presenter, Christine Hakim (an Indonesian actress who has served as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival multiple times and hosted the opening ceremony of the Jakarta ZG Film Week in 2011), and said:

"The next award is one that the organizing committee added in an emergency discussion last night—the Chopin Best New Director Award. Please welcome Christine to present the award..."

Christine Hakim opened the envelope, feigning surprise as she covered her mouth: "The winner of the Chopin Award for Best New Director is—"

She closed the card, glanced at the audience, and announced loudly, "Han Yi!"