On the morning of December 6, 2024, the 6th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) "Golden Coconut Awards" International Jury Meeting was grandly held at Sanya Atlantis, kicking off this annual gathering of the film industry. The meeting was hosted by the festival's Chief Planner Xing Tianyu, marking the first collective public appearance of the 13 international jurors from around the world.
The Golden Coconut Awards Competition Section of this edition encompasses three major categories: feature films, feature documentaries, and short films. Since the global call for entries began in July 2024, a total of 4,330 films from 117 countries and regions have been submitted, making the competition exceptionally fierce. After rigorous selection, 14 feature films- films, 8 feature documentaries, and 10 short films have stood out and successfully advanced to the final competition. These nominated films represent the diverse landscape of global filmmaking. Over the next few days, the jury will集中ly watch the films and engage in discussions to ultimately select ten highly anticipated awards, including Best Film, Jury Grand Prix, and Best Director.
Feature Film Jury:
Professional Insights and Artistic Philosophies
Luc Besson, President of the Feature Film Jury, stated at the jury meeting that jury members from diverse cultural backgrounds help in selecting outstanding young creators. He emphasized that the evaluation should "come from the heart," and that films should express emotion and love.
Xu Fan focuses on the coordination between the details of an actor's performance and the plot. She believes that actors should follow the requirements of the screenplay, and that interpreting local Chinese stories requires taking the overall picture into account.
Zhang Yi values the innovation of the screenplay and the actors' performance methods. He believes that films should possess fresh elements that can withstand the impact of streaming media.
Wang Jingchun discussed that in ensemble casts, actors must submit to the scenario and tone of the film, consistently devoting themselves to their performance.
Italian cinematographer Paolo Carnera shared his experience collaborating with directors from different countries. He will approach works from various cultural backgrounds with an open mind and use his professional skills to analyze their complexity.
French director Olivier Megaton explored the differences in narrative pacing between European and Asian cinema, hoping to achieve a dialogue with global audiences through genuine emotion.
Argentine film director Laura Citarella introduced the current state of Argentine cinema, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and independence. She believes that the evaluation should comprehensively consider the energy and uniqueness of the films.
Feature Documentary Jury:
Style Integration and Authentic Expression
Director Ju Anqi emphasized the importance of integrating different creative styles. He believes that documentary filmmaking is not merely recording reality, but a process of subjective discovery, and during the evaluation, he focuses on the film's creative understanding of reality.
Drawing on his rich experience, director Yung Chang values originality, modes of expression, and creativity during the evaluation. He pointed out that the key to documentaries lies in entering the theater and interpreting reality through cinematic language, an area where Chinese documentaries excel.
Miguel Ribeiro, Artistic Coordinator of the emerging cultural venue "Casa Pública" in Lisbon and former Artistic Director of the Portuguese Documentary Film Festival, mentioned that the ambiguity of form in Chinese documentaries facilitates thematic expression. He emphasized that the jury must treat every competing film fairly and uncover its highlights.
Short Film Jury:
Emotional Resonance and Youthful Perspectives
Director Li Ruijun believes that due to time constraints, short films should focus even more on conveying genuine emotion, and a lingering aftertaste is a crucial characteristic. He also emphasized that emotional resonance transcends national borders.
Screenwriter Bao Jingjing values the gentle heart of a creator striving to delight the audience when evaluating short films. She believes that a youth-themed short film is an excellent work if it can evoke memories and showcase everyday details.
Italian director Margherita Giusti encouraged young directors to expand their networks and learn from senior directors. She shared her valuable experience of collaborating with renowned directors, setting an example for young filmmakers.
At the end of the jury meeting, a certification ceremony was held, where certificates were presented to the juries of the feature film, feature documentary, and short film categories respectively, and a group photo was taken to commemorate this important moment.
We look forward to the jurors selecting works that represent the highest standards of cinematic art in the upcoming evaluation, contributing to the development of the global film industry. The results will be announced at the Closing Ceremony and Golden Coconut Awards Ceremony on the evening of December 10.
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