Media meets intl jury at Hainan film festival

On Dec 3, a press meeting took place in Sanya with the international jury for the "Golden Coconut Awards" at the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival. The 13 esteemed jury members, hailing from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, gathered to interact with the media.

This year's "Golden Coconut Awards" competition received a remarkable 4,564 submissions from 119 countries and regions. Finally, 14 feature films, six documentaries, and 10 short films were selected to compete for 10 awards, including the Best Feature Film and the Best Director.

The press meeting with the international jury for the "Golden Coconut Awards" on Dec 3. [Photo provided to english.sanya.gov.cn]

The documentary jury, featuring Chinese director Wang Yiyan, American scholar-filmmaker Renée Tajima-Peña, and French director Sylvain George, emphasized the power of authentic storytelling. Tajima-Peña highlighted the growing voice of Asian American documentaries, while George stressed the importance of a film's unique perspective. Wang reflected on balancing grand narratives with intimate human stories.

The feature film jury is chaired by renowned Italian curator Marco Müller, who expressed great optimism for the festival's role in Hainan's development as an international free-trade port.

The Thailand Pavilion is set up for the first time at the Hainan Island International Film Festival. [Photo provided to english.sanya.gov.cn]

He was joined by industry luminaries, including Thai director Banjong Pisonthanakun and Argentine director Mariano Llinás. Banjong highlighted the festival's Thai Pavilion’s role as a cultural bridge between China and Thailand, which is particularly significant on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Jury members shared diverse criteria, from Chinese director Gu Xiaogang's focus on directorial intention to Banjong's emphasis on audience engagement. Chinese actors Mei Ting and Guo Tao discussed the sincerity required in performance, while Llinás championed collaborative creativity.

The jury has now officially commenced deliberations, with all award winners to be announced at the festival's closing ceremony on Dec 9.