Chinese cinema took center stage at the 10th Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival, as Niu Niu’s “Final Payment” and Dong Jie’s “Zoom In, Zoom Out” each secured two major awards. The festival, held in China, highlighted both emerging and established voices in global filmmaking.
“Final Payment” claimed the Fei Mu Award for best film in the Hidden Dragons section, along with the best actor prize for Niu Jianrong, the director’s father. The prestigious best film honor includes a cash award of RMB1 million (approximately $149,000), which is divided equally between the director for future development and the film’s distributor in China.
The jury praised “Final Payment” for its ability to draw viewers into an expansive emotional landscape through a concise and masterful approach. The story centers on a homeowner’s dispute with his contractor over final renovation payments, a conflict inspired by Niu Jianrong’s personal experiences. Although primarily known as a seasoned television and film director, Niu Jianrong made his acting debut in the lead role.
Accepting the award, Niu Jianrong thanked the jury for their courage in honoring his performance, noting the unique dynamic of being directed by his own son. “In real life, I’m my son’s father; but in front of the camera, he’s my father,” he remarked.
Dong Jie’s “Zoom In, Zoom Out” was awarded both the Fei Mu jury award and the Cinephilia Critics’ Award. Dong expressed gratitude for the “absolute purity of intent” that guided the production, emphasizing the joy of collaborating with friends and connecting with audiences.
In the animated category, Xu Zao received the Unitree best director award for his debut feature “Light Pillar,” which comes with RMB200,000 (about $29,800) to support his next project. The jury commended his strong aesthetic awareness and warm storytelling style. Sun Yi won best actress for her role in Wang Xiaozhen’s “A Joke,” with the jury highlighting her restrained and delicate portrayal of regret and growth within an intimate relationship.
A special mention was awarded to Cai Chengjie’s “Suzhou Quartet,” produced by Huang Bo, for its bravery in exploring new forms of storytelling on the movie screen.
In the international Crouching Tigers competition, Rafiki Fariala’s “Congo Boy” won the Roberto Rossellini Award for best film and $20,000. The jury noted the film’s simple style, which echoes the tradition of neorealism. Fariala, unable to attend in person, sent a video message that ended with a folk song.
Rafael Manuel took home the best director award and $10,000 for “Filipiñana,” an executive-produced project by Jia Zhangke. Lenti Liang’s “Our Secrets” won the Fei Mu best short film award, sponsored by Nowness of Meta Media. Liang shared that the film was based on her childhood trauma and that discussing it with her mother after the premiere helped her find peace.
Other notable winners included Wang Wenting’s “Black Goat,” which took the Unitree best student short film award in the Pingyao Corner section, and Ann Hui, who received the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East-West Award. Marco Müller and Han Sanping were honored with the International Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award, while Hello Group founder Tang Yan received the 10th Anniversary Award.
The full list of winners also included “Ben’imana” by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, which received a jury award in the Crouching Tigers section, and “Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep” by Rakan Mayasi, which won a special mention and the Netpac Award for best first film.
Really surprised Dong Jie’s film took both top jury and critic awards. I thought the animation got more buzz.
Love that the best actor is the director’s real-life dad. That dynamic sounds incredibly interesting to watch on screen.