Golden Coconut Award announces intl jury panel

The judging panel for the "Golden Coconut Award". [Photo/Hainan Island International Film Festival]

The judging panel for the "Golden Coconut Award" of the seventh Hainan Island International Film Festival was announced on Nov 25, revealing a stellar lineup of 13 internationally acclaimed film professionals.

Leading the panel as chairman is renowned Italian film scholar Marco Mueller, a key figure in promoting Chinese cinema globally.

The jury comprises seven members for feature films, including Chinese actors Guo Tao and Mei Ting, Taiwanese actor-director Lee Kang-sheng, Argentine director Mariano Llinás, Thai director Banjong Pisanthanakun, and Chinese director Gu Xiaogang. Documentary and short film units feature judges from the United States, France, and China, representing a wide array of cinematic perspectives.

This year's festival received a record 4,564 submissions from 119 countries and regions. The international jury will evaluate these entries across ten award categories, with winners to be announced at the closing ceremony on Dec 9.