"To Live To Sing" took home the awards for Best Film and Best Actress at the Shanghai International Film Festival's Asian New Talent Awards (ANTA) ceremony on Friday night. 

Biggest winner

"To Live To Sing" tells the story of Zhao Li and her folk Sichuan Opera troupe as they perform in villages over the years. The film's director, Ma Nan, said he left Shanghai when he was 10 but the city developed so fast that he didn't have a sense of belonging when he returned 10 years later. But by working with the crew members in Sichuan, he felt as if he was home again.

The executive producer of the film, Deng Jie, is also a renowned and veteran actress in China.

"I'm so glad that tonight I became a 'freshman,'" Deng said. "We spent seven years making the film. I feel so delighted to achieve the honor tonight."

Zhao Xiaoli, who won Best Actress for her role in the film, burst into tears and extended appreciation to the festival and the film's crew members.

"To Live To Sing" was shown in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in May this year.

The awards were evaluated by a five-member jury comprised of Chinese director and screenwriter Ning Hao, Japanese director and screenwriter Ishii Yuya, director and actor Alec Su from China's Taiwan, Chinese actress Tan Zhuo, and festival curator and film critic Philip Cheah from Singapore.

Best Director

Yuko Hakota won Best Director for his film "Blue Hour." Famous Chinese actor and ANTA jury member Alec Su and Chinese director Zhang Yang announced the award.

"Blue Hour," which chronicles the journey of a female TV advertisement director, has a rating of 7.3 out 10 on Chinese film rating website Douban.

Best Actor

Malaysian actor Yuan Teng won Best Actor for his role in "The Paradise," which is adapted from the true story of drug addicts in China's Taiwan.

The award was presented by Chinese actress and ANTA jury member Tan Zhuo and Chinese actor Oho Hao.

More talents to see

The award for Best Cinematographer went to Venumadhav Gajjala for his Indian film "Moan," while the award for Best Script Writer went to Indonesian screenwriter Yusuf Radjamuda for the film "Mountain Song."

Two of the Golden Goblet Award winners were also revealed during the ceremony. The Best Live Action Short Film went to Chinese movie "Nowhere to Put," while Spanish film "La Noria" won the Best Animated Short Film.

The 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival has two separate awards – the Golden Goblet Awards, which features the main prizes, and the Asian New Talents Awards for emerging film talents from Asia.

The full list of the Golden Goblet Awards will be announced at a ceremony on the evening of June 23.

Friday's ceremony also witnessed the launch of the SIFF ASIA framework.

The framework includes Asian Film Panorama, Asian Project Co-production, Asian Film Salon and Asian Station Express in addition to the Asian New Talent Awards. It aims to encourage the creation and development of new films.