Chapter 272-283 [Win the Three Gold Awards Again? Aim for the Director Grand Slam]

Best Director Award winner Art Lee!

When the award presenter on the stage shouted out this sentence, Li Yishu’s originally calm face immediately showed a bright smile.

Although he had received a call from the Cannes organizers last night, he had not won any of the previous awards until today’s award ceremony. The only awards left were Best Director, the Grand Jury Prize and the Palme d’Or. It seemed that he was competing for these three awards, but Lee Yi-su was still not sure whether he would win Best Director.

Now that it was confirmed that she had won the Best Director Award, Li Yishu naturally stood up with a smile on her face and hugged Zhang Manyu, Han Sanping and others around her one by one.

Gong Li also came over in a bright red cheongsam. While hugging him, she whispered, “It’s a pity that I didn’t walk the red carpet with you, otherwise you would definitely win the Palme d’Or this year.”

“Next time, next time we’ll walk the red carpet together.”

Li Yishu felt very amused. After patting her arm, she shook hands with Zhang Yimou and Ge You, then strode towards the podium.

Standing on the stage of the Cannes Awards Ceremony again, Li Yishu politely thanked the two award presenters, then took the golden trophy for Best Director from them. He then came to the microphone and looked at the densely packed guests below the stage. He sorted out his thoughts and slowly spoke:

“A few days ago, when I visited the Cannes Film Festival History Pavilion, I saw the origin of the Cannes Film Festival.”

“In 1939, during the Second World War, France decided to establish its own international film festival in order to counter the Venice Film Festival, which was then controlled by fascism. This inadvertent decision created a world-renowned international film festival…”

“Fate is such a coincidence!”

“Over the past few decades, the Cannes Film Festival has enabled countless filmmakers around the world to establish long-term careers through its professional, fair, impartial attitude and responsibility. Winners can gain international reputation and attract tens of thousands of audiences through this award.”

“It can be said that the Cannes Film Festival has made the dreams of countless filmmakers come true. Here you can become an overnight sensation and become famous all over the world. Also, here you can receive the most fair, just and professional awards.”

“I believe that as time goes by, the Cannes Film Festival will continue to shine brightly like the golden trophy in my hand, because there is no racial discrimination here, and it supports the love and dreams of movies of any country and any nation in the world!”

Li Yishu held up the trophy and shouted, “I love Cannes!”

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause broke out at the scene. Everyone knew that this Chinese Li was summarizing the uproarious events that had occurred a few days ago.

I have to admit that what he said is very good. Every year, filmmakers from all over the world gather on the Cannes stage, including some small countries in Southeast Asia, such as Cambodia and Laos, which have almost no presence in the film industry.

This year, there are several unknown films from small countries in the shortlist of the main competition unit of the Cannes Film Festival, such as “Valley Farmer” directed by Cambodian director Pan Lide and “Lovers Under the Olive Trees” directed by Iranian director…

Even though they haven’t won any awards so far and have no chance of winning any more, being nominated actually represents victory, because nominated films can be publicly promoted at the Cannes Film Festival, bringing them popularity, fame, and film producers from all over the world.

“Lee is a grateful person.”

Looking at Lee Yi-su walking down from the stage, George Somas, chairman of the Cannes Film Critics Week, turned to look at Oakley Yordanov who was sitting next to him.

He is one of the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival.

“He is indeed a grateful person!”

Oakley nodded.

Recalling Lee Yi-su’s last words, he said thoughtfully: “Supporting the love and dream of movies in any country and any nation in the world… This sentence is very well said. I think next year’s Cannes Film Festival can use this to promote it.”

George nodded. “Of course, no problem. I think it was a wise decision for you to expel those two people this time. American movies are now rampant all over the world, and their market share is increasing. We must find a way to win over third world filmmakers as soon as possible, so that we can continue to expand the influence of our Cannes Film Festival.”

“Moreover, this incident has enabled you to successfully create a “not welcome list” for Cannes, which will not only expand the influence of fairness and justice in Cannes, but also increase the power of our Cannes Film Festival.”

The Cannes Film Festival itself is just a film awards event, but as its popularity grows, many films that were not shortlisted have also come to promote it, and then trade film copyrights with film producers from all over the world.

Over time, a film festival was formed to award prizes, promote cultural exchange, and distribute and screen films.

It is good, of course, but it is not enough to have only grace without deterrence. In the past, the Cannes Film Festival has always wanted to increase its own authority, but considering the existence of the other two, it has been slow to reform. But this time, with the help of Charlie and Sean’s racial discrimination, it has drawn up a list of unwelcome people.

Now that we have the list, we can just stuff people in there based on who we are unhappy with.

“Haha, you’re right George.”

Oakley smiled proudly. This unwelcome list was the result of consultation between him and the organizers of the other two Berlin and Venice Film Festivals.

The three major European film festivals are complementary and competitive with each other, but at this time, they must be united in facing the outside world. Lee Yi-seok is the three major golden directors selected by them, so naturally they will not allow anyone to use him to question the fairness of the three major film festivals.

Now, not only have they maintained their authority, but they have also obtained a list of unwelcome people that makes filmmakers terrified. From now on, if anyone deliberately targets the three major European film festivals, they can add people to the list.

George suddenly said, “So Oakley, I think we should promote Lee and use his image to promote the influence of our Cannes Film Festival in third world countries.”

Oakley looked confused: “George, what do you mean?”

“We need to attract more filmmakers from around the world to participate in the exhibition or to promote the Cannes Film Festival. It is difficult to increase the influence of Cannes in Europe, North America and East Asia. However, there is still more room for development in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and other regions…”

George Somas’s meaning is actually very simple, that is, to let the Cannes Film Festival promote Lee Yi-su as much as possible and establish him as a representative figure of young filmmakers in the new era.

Lee himself is Asian, so this will be a good way to attract filmmakers from Southeast Asia, Central Asia and other Asian regions to participate in the Cannes Film Festival.

“George, what you said makes some sense. We can give it a try. But we still have to wait until I get back to hold a meeting to decide.”

Oakley nodded solemnly. The competition among the three major European film festivals was quite fierce.

If we can win over Lee Yi-su in advance, it will affect the film markets of other Asian countries, whose populations combined amount to hundreds of millions.

Hearing this, George nodded without saying anything more. Instead, he looked up at Zhang Yimou and Nikita Mikhalkov who were receiving their awards. Both of them won this year’s Special Jury Award.

After half an hour.

At a reception hosted by Cannes organizers.

Li Yishu shook the red wine glass in her hand and looked at George Somas with a smile: “Chairman George, thank you very much this time.”

George smiled and said, “Li, this is what I should do. What’s more, promoting you as the image of Cannes is very important for the Cannes Film Festival to increase its influence in the Asian market.” “Anyway, I have to thank Chairman George for this time.”

After chatting for a few more words, Li Yishu saw someone coming to see George. He also smiled and stretched out his hand to shake the other person:

“Chairman George, I won’t disturb you from chatting with others. If you have the chance, please come to Golden Lion Pictures in the United States. I am looking forward to how you, as a company consultant, will give advice to the employees.”

George laughed: “Haha, no problem, Li, when I’m done with my work for this period of time, I’ll go to the United States to have a look.”

With 20 US dollars a year and a 5-year contract, George naturally wanted to go to the American film company called Golden Lion Pictures.

After saying goodbye to George Somas, Li Yishu left with a smile on her face. But before she had taken a few steps, Gong Li suddenly jumped out and asked, “Yishu, what were you talking about with Chairman George so happily?”

Li Yishu shook her head and said, “Nothing, just thanking his film critics weekly for naming me the most popular director this year.”

“It’s almost time.”

Gong Li just asked casually, and didn’t care whether the answer was true or false. Instead, she looked charming: “Little Leo, do you want to help me go back to the palace to rest?”

“Of course, please go ahead, Emperor Gong.”

Li Yishu’s eyes lit up. He had never played role-playing games with Gong Li before, so he was going to have a good time this time.

Put on a big show:
Little Leo fights against Queen Gong, gently rubbing, rubbing and picking!

At this time in faraway China, it was just past 2 a.m. Yanjing time.

After the Cannes Film Festival awards ceremony ended, Xinhua reporters at the scene had already reported the winning news back to China.

The lights were still on in the Renmin Daily newspaper office, and many people stayed behind to work overtime just to revise the Cannes news reports as soon as possible.

“Lee Ye-seo won another award!”

Looking at the information on the fax, a staff member shouted excitedly: “Editor-in-chief, Li Yishu and Zhang Yimou both won awards.”

The editor-in-chief strode over and asked: “Who won the Palme d’Or?”

“None of them, but Li Yishu won the Best Director Award, Zhang Yimou won the Special Jury Award, and the Palme d’Or went to an American director named Quentin.”

“That’s not bad, we won the second and third prizes.”

The editor’s eyes lit up.

“Not only that, there is also Ge ​​You. Ge You won the Best Actor Award! This seems to be the first Chinese actor to win the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival, right?”

“what?!”

The editor-in-chief immediately took the fax paper, glanced at the ten lines, and laughed excitedly, “Haha, this time our Chinese film really did well, winning three major awards at once, the actor, director, and special award!”

“What Li Yishu said is great. It seems to be a counterattack against the racial discrimination of the two Americans some time ago.”

“Hurry up and have someone revise the previous draft, emphasize Li Yishu’s words, and give it to me for review after the revision!”

“Yes!”

Just as two employees were about to take the fax out, the machine suddenly started buzzing again. A few people waited for a while out of curiosity, and then they saw a photo appear on the fax.

In the photo, Lee Yi-su is standing in the middle, holding the Best Director trophy in one hand, Zhang Yimou is standing on the left holding the special award, and Ge You is holding the Best Actor trophy on the right.

Behind them were guests, bright lights and wine, and surrounded by reporters, while the three of them grinned and laughed wildly, looking so proud and happy.

Winning three major awards in one battle, all of which were from mainland film crews, was extremely rare before, not to mention that they were all major awards, and two of them were firsts.

Li Yishu won the first Cannes Best Director Award by a Chinese, and it was also the first time that Ge You won the Best Actor Award.

Zhang Yimou’s special award can only be regarded as the first time in mainland China, because Hou Hsiao-xian’s “A City of Sadness” won it last year.

Seeing this photo, a younger newspaper employee couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Director Li, don’t you want to win the three gold medals again?”

Brush the three golds again?
The people around understood what the young man meant. He was not seeking the grand prize, but the Best Director Award.

The editor-in-chief reacted and said quickly, “Quick, contact Popular Film and ask them if they know who is the youngest director award winner in the history of the three major European film festivals. Then check who has won the three major European director awards.”

There is nothing surprising about simply reporting who has won an award. In recent years, whenever the three major European film festivals announce the awards, there are basically always mainland filmmakers winning awards.

Now that there is suddenly an additional point for reporting news, it is natural that we have to focus on reporting it.

Lee Yi-su has successfully won three European awards, becoming the fourth in the world and the first in Asia in the Grand Slam director. The next challenge is to win the Best Director Award at the three major film festivals, which is also an exciting thing.

Half an hour later, the staff of “Popular Movies” magazine searched through a lot of information and urgently contacted the Xinhua News Agency in Europe for help in finding information. Finally, they got a very surprising piece of news.

That is, up to now, the winners of the Best Director Award at the three major European Film Festivals were all in their 40s when they won the awards, and there is not a single person who has won the Grand Slam of the three major director awards!

“Haha, just follow this report!”

The editor-in-chief of Renmin Daily excitedly said: “Li Yishu has become the youngest winner of the Best Director Award at the three major European film festivals in the world, and is striving to become the first person in the world to win the Grand Slam of the three major film festival director awards!”

The three gold Grand Slams are certainly worth celebrating, but after all, with so many great examples before him, he can only be considered number one in Asia and number four in the world.

But if you win the Grand Slam of the three major director awards, you will truly be the best in the world!
　I have something to do today, so I only have one update. I saw a reader telling me about the book card issue, and I learned about it. From now on, the chapters will be 4000 words.

　
(End of this chapter)