The 4th Beijing International Film Festival commenced on 16 April 2014 and concluded on Wednesday, 23 April 2014. The Beijing government is still trying hard to find a place for this new and ambitious film festival in the global scenario. This year it witnessed a large in-pour of Hollywood directors and other foreign filmmakers who had come looking for potential profit markets and newer ideas.
NATION’S PRIDE
Director Richie Mehta’s Indo-Canadian film named ‘Siddharth’ has won the Tiantan award which is also known as the Temple of Heaven awards, for the best feature film at the 4th Beijing international film festival held in China.
Richie Mehta is a Canadian director of Indian origin who got inspired to make this film after he met a man on the streets of New Delhi who was searching for his son who had gone missing. It shows him travel across India in the hope that he would get back his son unharmed.
The lead roles in the film are played by Rajesh Tailang and Tannishtha Chatterjee. The story revolves around Mahendra- a chainwallah, who is happy to find work for his 12 year old son but soon by a twist of events his happiness turns into a dark nightmare when his son does not return home.
Rajkumar Hirani, a noted Indian film director was a part of the judging panel. Hirani’s blockbuster hit ‘3 idiots’ was also well received in china in 2011. When the award for the best film was announced the director and producer took to the stage immediately but it was evident from their facial expressions that they had not expected the win. Even the audiences were surprised to see ‘Siddharth’ and not ‘The Grandmaster’’ receive the honour.
Fifteen films were shortlisted out of a grand total of 837 submissions, across 88 countries and regions, who had entered the race.
THE CONTENDER
Although this year the frontrunner for the award was Wong Kar Kai’s ‘The Grandmaster’, it came as a surprise when ‘Siddharth’ bagged it. Nonetheless the award for best director did go to Wong Kar-Wai for his martial arts drama film ‘The Grandmaster’. The film was based on the life of Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man. ‘The Grandmaster’ also premiered at the 63rd Berlin film festival as the opening movie on the first day of the fest. The film had swept the Hong Kong Film Awards with a record of 12 wins. However here in the Beijing International Film Festival, it won only 3, one each for Best director, actress and cinematography.
OTHER WINNERS
The Best Actor award went to French actor Guillaume Gouix for his moving performance in the film ‘Attila Marcel’ which also bagged the Best Music award. Alan Rickman got the award for the Best Supporting Actor for his work in ‘The Promise’. Zhang Ziyi won the Best Actress award for ‘The Grandmaster’ and Re Lee bagged the Best Supporting Actress award for ‘Hope’- a south Korean production. ‘The Rocket’, an Australian film won an award for its visual effects while Zhou Zhiyong, ZhandJi, Lin Aihua got the Best Screenplay Trophy for ‘American Dreams in China’.