2024 BJIFF Tiantan Award winners announced in Beijing

Ten prizes of the prestigious Tiantan Award were announced during the closing ceremony of the 14th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) on Friday.

This year, the Tiantan Award received 1,509 entries from 118 countries and regions, setting a record for participation. The submissions covered a wide range of genres and themes, demonstrating the global diversity of cinema.

The Chinese coproduction "Gold or Shit" won the Best Feature Film award. This comedy film tells the story of a disillusioned young man in Beijing who faces setbacks in both work and relationships, leading to his return to his hometown in a state of despair. Not only does he need to reestablish intimacy with his family, but he also needs to explore more possibilities for his own future. After encountering numerous setbacks in the face of reality, he unexpectedly reunites with his high school classmate, which leads to unforeseen changes in his life.

Veteran actor Fan Wei won the Best Actor award for the Chinese movie "Strangers When We Meet." Mia Maelzer took the Best Actress award for the Indian film "Stolen." Indian director Karan Tejpal won the Tiantan Award for Best Director for "Stolen."

To mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France this year, a French film week was also held in Beijing from April 18 to 26. Multiple cinemas across Beijing screened 30 different French films, showcasing rich themes and diverse styles.

A variety of engaging activities were held, including discussions on topics such as the global distribution of Chinese films and the evolving role of domestic cinema productions at international festivals. With guests from North America, Europe, South America and Japan, the event sparked insightful conversations and paved the way for Chinese cinema's global rise in today's dynamic and burgeoning industry landscape.