At the Cannes Film Festival…
Huang Sibo, Zhu Xiaoce, Zhang Zuting, Lu Zhiyao, Lin Ruyi… the main cast and crew of Tomorrow is Beautiful sat in a row below the stage. Huang Sibo was dressed formally in a bow tie. He had a confident smile on his face though it was a pity that he could understand neither English nor French spoken at the event. He realized that Level Four in English was really useless in such an event.
“Xiao Lin, would they be speaking in English or French when the rewards are presented later? We won’t miss it, right?” Huang Sibo asked quietly.
Lin Ruyi glanced at him. “Brother Huang, what are you thinking about, eh? It’s good enough for us to be able to walk this red carpet and show our faces. Are you really expecting to win the award?”
Huang Sibo expressed his dissatisfaction. “Why? Do you think Boss Pei’s script is not good enough, or do you think the acting skills of Movie King Lu are not up to standard?
“Moreover, during the previous screening, the audience was very enthusiastic. Everyone applauded enthusiastically as well. I observed that only about twenty to thirty people left; the rest watched the whole movie. Why would it not get us a prize?”
Lin Ruyi shook her head, wanting to lower her voice, but decided against it since she thought that no one here would understand Mandarin anyway.
“Brother Huang, you are not familiar with the contents of this place so it’s normal to have that sort of thinking. This film exhibition is managed single-handedly by Boss Pei after all.”
“There are conditions to being selected for the Cannes Film Festival. It must have been completed twelve months before the festival and has not been screened in other international film festivals. It is fine to conduct business operations in your own country but not feasible, in principle, in areas outside your country.” Huang Sibo was taken aback. “Is there anything else to pay attention to? Then, our movie does not seem to meet this condition anymore?” Lin Ruyi nodded. “Yes, but the film festival is a place where people pay attention to connections. Rules are determined by people. Tomorrow is Beautiful might have been released, but the popularity is very low now and there is no particular heated discussion; neither did we participate in other film festivals.
“The reason why these film festivals formulated these mandatory requirements was to lock in more high-quality film resources and to ensure the quality and popularity of the film festival.
“In fact, some films that had won in Berlin, Venice, and other places had also participated in the Cannes Film Festival. However, it was basically very difficult to be selected except for some very good and top-notch films that could win awards.
“In addition, the relationship between Cannes and the film distribution company was also very delicate. Some bad films could also enter the main competition. It was said that there was an exchange of resources there.
“Of course, this situation was very rare. Most of it was to bring in candidates. Whether you could win the award or not depended on the quality of the film itself. That was the bottom line of Cannes. “So do you understand? Tomorrow is Beautiful is not popular in foreign countries, the quality is not excellent, plus some other reasons that we don’t know about. The judges made an exception to let us enter, but don’t think about winning any awards. We’ve already profited from walking the red carpet and seeing the world.”
Huang Sibo was a little regretful. He might be the person-in-charge of Fei Huang Workspace, but he was the most amateur amongst everyone on the set. He had also been in ‘shock therapy’ recently. He had not understood this even though he had been doing his further studies.
One naturally did not know of these if one were not in charge of film submissions.
“That was a pity then. If I’d known, then we should have submitted the film before we released it?” Huang Sibo said angrily.
Lin Ruyi shook his head. “You’re thinking too much. Many good domestic films came to Cannes without any results. Tomorrow is Beautiful is probably not enough, too. Moreover, who could think so long term by then?
“What’s more, most directors had participated many times in many Film Festivals and knew each other well. They had relationships with others while we are not even well known in China…
“Therefore, don’t think so much; we’ll just be around and head back. We are basking in Boss Pei’s light to be here in the first place. We’ve beaten many domestic movies, okay?”
Huang Sibo thought of it and seemed to understand that logic. However, at this moment, Zhu Xiaoce, who had been listening to their conversation, interjected. “Little Lin, Cannes is not the same as Oscars. The organizing crew would not notify the group to participate in the final awards ceremony if they did not win any award. That means that we’ll get one award at the very least.”
Lin Ruyi’s eyes lit up immediately. “Really?”
Zhu Xiaoce hesitated. “Uh… in most cases, yes. However, they would also ask the nominated to come in certain cases. In short, I do think there is hope for the best newcomer award. We must have confidence in the quality of our movie after all.”
The awards were beginning to be announced as they discussed.
Short Film Palme d’Or, Best debut, special mention, etc…
The lucky winner would step on the red carpet to accept the award. The audience would also respond with endless warm applause. Excellent filmmakers would be reported in this event with god-like respect.
Zhu Xiaoce and the rest clapped along but felt something wrong the more they waited. The entire award ceremony would take more than an hour from start to end. More than 40 minutes had passed after looking at their watches.
The movie king award had been awarded, but Tomorrow is Beautiful had yet to be announced.
Zhu Xiaoce thought that if this movie could have gotten an award, it would have been the best debut film or best scriptwriter award, but they obviously did not. The hope for the best actor was slim. Lu Zhiyao might have dedicated his best acting skills to the film, but there were too many big names waiting in line at the film festival.
However, the problem was that it was more impossible as time went by.
The best director was not theirs either.
Huang Sibo felt fine beads of sweat oozing out of his palms. His heart was pounding.
What did that mean? They couldn’t possibly be awarded the Palme d’Or? Or did the staff make mistakes and they did not win any awards at all?
The presenter on stage had been changed. A respected veteran movie star came onto stage and smiled in front of the microphone.
“Thank you.
“It is my honor to be able to present the special Jury Prize[1]. I believe that today is an unforgettable day for everyone present. However, we always believe that tomorrow will be better. Then, Mr. Chairman, will you tell us which movie won this precious award?”
On the right side of the stage, the chairman of the jury who was the first from the left, stood up: “The winner of the Jury Prize…”
“It’s for ‘Tomorrow is beautiful’, for Zhu Xiaoce!”
The audience cheered and applauded when the name of the movie was announced. Zhu Xiaoce sat frozen in his seat, completely confused and unable to move.
Huang Sibo was already cheering and pulled Zhu Xiaoce up. “Fu*k, we really won!!!”
Even people with poor English could make out the English name of Tomorrow is Beautiful and the completely inaccurate pronunciation of ‘Zhu Xiaoce’.
Zhu Xiaoce walked onto the stage in a daze amid the applause and cheers. He shook hands with the award-presenting guests and came to the podium.
“I apologize. I did not prepare a speech in French nor English because I never thought I could win this prize. I… find it difficult to describe how excited I am at this moment.”
“As a new film director, the film is not my own credit. Here, I hope that the crew members present can come on stage and share this honor with me…”
Zhu Xiaoce paused after every sentence, leaving enough time for translation.
Huang Sibo, Lu Zhiyao, and the rest took the stage after the other, standing behind Zhu Xiaoce and expressing gratitude to the audience and the jury. Zhu Xiaoce had tears in his eyes, and his voice was somewhat cracked. “Here, I would like to pay tribute to all the seniors in the film industry. Thank you to all the staff and our crew, thank you…”
Zhu Xiaoce changed his words after a series of thank you’s.
“In addition to everyone in our crew, I would also like to thank a person who is not here today. He injected his soul into the film, allowed our actors to have superb acting skills, and provided us with abundant funds for us to express ourselves without any worries. “Boss Pei, thank you for providing inspiration and soul for this movie. All the cast and crew, including me, were able to bring this movie to life under your inspiration.
“Thank you, everyone!”
Thunderous applause rang throughout the event once again!
…
May 24th, Monday…
Pei Qian woke up naturally. He looked at his phone and realized that the alarm had yet to ring. His plan to go to bed early and rise early was a great success. What a wonderful day. He touched the control panel at the head of the bed to let the sun shine through the smart glass. Pei Qian suddenly felt as though he had forgotten something looking at the bright sunshine. He suddenly became sober.
The Cannes Film Festival!
Pei Qian was afraid that he would be bombarded by various news last night after speaking to Ruan Guangjian. He turned his phone to flight mode, leaving only the alarm clock.
The Cannes award should have ended in the early hours of the morning. Pei Qian carefully turned off the flight mode with a complicated mood.
All sorts of message windows started popping up frantically. The little red dot of the chat software soon became 99+!
Pei Qian: “…”
Oh, sh*t, did they really win a prize?
Calm down, calm down, it might be comforting messages because they won nothing?
Pei Qian calmed down. The headline of a news feed spoiled him in advance just when he was about to open the chat software with trembling fingers. “Domestic film won the Jury Prize of the Cannes Film Festival after eleven years!” Pei Qian: “…”
He did not know what this so-called Jury Prize was. But things were definitely not optimistic judging from this title! Pei Qian could not help but hold on to his forehead.
Oh, no, something horrible had happened!
[1] This is the second-highest award in the Cannes Film Festival, which recognizes an original work containing the spirit of inquiry
