25th Shanghai International Film Festival closes in Pudong

The closing ceremony of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival - the Belt and Road Film Week is held in Pudong, Shanghai on June 13. [Photo provided to english.pudong.gov.cn]

The closing ceremony of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival - the Belt and Road Film Week was held in Pudong, Shanghai on June 13.

Multiple honors were granted including the "Media Choice Award for Film" and "Media Choice Award for Filmmaker".

After a joint discussion of the five media reviews, Chinese director Wu Lang's Absence and Croatian director Juraj Lerotić's Safe Place stood out among the outstanding films shortlisted for the the Belt and Road Film Week and won the honor of "Media Choice Award for Film". It is worth mentioning that both works marked the debuts of each director.

Hungarian actress Katalin Román, who starred in Six Weeks, was selected for the "Media Choice Award for Filmmaker". This film, which was selected for the Belt and Road Film Week, was her first foray into film, and her outstanding performance was recognized by the media judges as the movie's "true driving force".

The other winner of the "Media Choice Award for Filmmaker" was Israeli screenwriter and director Michal Vinik. Her film Valeria is Getting Married was mostly shot indoors, but the script is concise, poignant, and gripping. The film also won the "Most Popular Film" award as voted by the audience.

The Greek film A Day in the Life of a Teddy Bear, directed by Xi Luoshi, was selected for the screening list of the Belt and Road Film Week. Xi was formerly the Greek Consul General in Shanghai, but after leaving his diplomatic post, he returned to Shanghai as a film director and screenwriter.

As a China-Greece co-production, the film integrates Xi's profound reflections on the differences in lifestyle and culture between the two countries.

In the future, films with unique local characteristics from countries involved in the Belt and Road will be disseminated on more international platforms, expanding the influence of diverse cultures.