15th FIRST MART ·Awarding Ceremony
When keywords such as “typecasting” and “labeling” are repeatedly used in the film market, what kind of direction is expected of young creators? When creators are swaying between sincere content and additional forms, how to return to “sincerity” and find the core expression?
FIRST MART encourages unswerving creators in addition to insisting on and exploring the creation of “immediate needs”. At the intersection of the market and the art port, FIRST MART provides creators with the oars to move forward, and expects that every story may originate from FIRST, but will not stop at FIRST.
From July 25th to 29th, 2021, FIRST MART – Industry Screening will continuously screen 15 selected works, and simultaneously open industry talks between market guests and film creators, aiming at precisely linking the market to reach an exchange dialogue.
From July 30th to 31st, 18 film projects arrived at the public presentation site in Xining after going through the preliminary review, script review, and proposal review, and faced the final reviewers of the FIRST MART, Feng Xiaogang, Zhou Xun, Wang Yibing, Quan Yongxian, Ma Yingli, and the representatives of the market guests to communicate and dialog at the presentation site.
At the public presentation, the final judges and market guests gave their advice and feedback to the creators of the selected films from their own perspectives. Coming from the FIRST MART Open Week experience, the creators were nervous but still confident and determined, “This is the work I like, so I want to come to you.”
Feng Xiaogang shared his feelings about Farewell, My Childhood， “This movie raises a social issue that is worth discussing – the disappearance of the city’s fireworks under urban development. This one has a responsibility to record history down.”
Ma Yingli shared his thoughts on Ranbiwa: “Seeing the power, seeing a lot of things, there are a lot of deep relationships between humanity, nature, people and animals, and people, and I hope to be able to tap into these powerful things.”
Quan Yong first based the story of A Borrowed Life on the statement, “Someone once asked me, why are you immersed in the past, in fantasy stories, why don’t you go and state the life of the present? That’s why I think it’s very brave of these creators to take on this subject matter.”
Zhou Xun shared her feelings about The Midsummer’S Voice, “I think it’s a very romantic story. My mother also took me to watch Yueju opera when I was young, and I often went backstage to watch them put on makeup and clothes. I also like the pilot movie you provided.”
Wang Yibing said of Anonymous Beasts, “It feels quite solidly prepared and the story is very ethereal. Sports is a shell of what is actually youth and growth.”
At the same scene, the FIRST MART – Industry Screening Special Recommendation also took place. The creators of six works, including”The Be-All And End-All”, “Seeking The Shadows”, “Chasing Through Time”, “Didi’s Vacation”, “Go South”, and “Imperfect Perfect Life”, made public explanations on the spot. After the theater screenings and booking negotiations, the creators’ enthusiasm to see their works reach the audience has become stronger, sincere and firm.
On August 1, the 15th FIRST Film Market Awards Ceremony was finally held, and the honors were settled.
LIKE FATHER AND SON “SPARKING LEGACY” AWARD : SEEKING THE SHADOWS
Congratulations to Seeking The Shadows for winning Like Father and Son “Sparking Legacy” Award, sponsored by Director Bai Zhiqiang with 50,000 RMB.
The prize money of 50,000 RMB is to encourage young creators who have dreams of making films to brave the hardships, work hard, create and express themselves, and make excellent films with independent ideas and unique styles.
TWO-BIT FILM AWARD: IMPERFECT PERFECT LIFE
Imperfect Perfect Life won the Two Bits Film Award, a non-cash prize worth 300,000 RMB provided by Two Bits Entertainment.
Based on Yunhe Data’s “Four Elephants” data platform and Al algorithm, Two Bits Entertainment provides user insight, media optimization, material matching and other full-process marketing and operation services for the film, helping to maximize the box office of the film.
BRIDGING THE DRAGON SPECIAL AWARD: WHEN WILL YOU BE BACK
When Will You Be Back won The Bridging The Dragon Special Award, which was given by BRIDGING THE DRAGON SINO-EUROPEAN PRODUCER’S ASSOCIATION (BDS).
In order to support high-quality films and open up possibilities for them in European festivals and markets, BDS has created the “Bridging The Dragon Special Award”, which will be awarded to three selected films from industry screenings. The winners will receive support from BDS for the project’s festival strategy, financing, post-production cooperation and sales in Europe.
“HERO” WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AWARD: THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL
The Be-All And End-All won the “Hero” Women Empowerment Award, sponsored by Meridian Entertainment with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB.
“YING·PLAN” AWARD: SEEKING THE SHADOWS
Seeking The Shadows won the “Ying·Plan” Award, with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB sponsored by Image Media.
New talents and new works are the witness and hope for the vigorous growth of the film industry. By establishing the “Ying·Plan” Award, Image Media is willing to help young filmmakers explore new expressions, engrave time with images, and visit people’s hearts with stories.
IQIYI AWARD: IMPERFECT PERFECT LIFE
Imperfect Perfect Life won the Best Seat award , with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB sponsored by IQIYI.
IQIYI Film continues to support FIRST MART and Industry Screening. We will continue to work with FIRST to promote films with both commercial value and the spirit of artistic exploration to the industry and the audience. The special IQIYI Best Seat award will be given to the most popular film in the industry screening.
ASTEROID ESCORT PROJECT:THE LIBRARIAN
The Librarian won Paihua Media’s Asteroid Escort Project, with a non-cash prize of 300,000 RMB provided by PaiHua Production.
PaiHua Production’s “Asteroid Escort Project” is dedicated to discovering and supporting outstanding creators, taking China’s film and television industry as the center of gravity and flying by light. It aims to provide excellent young filmmakers with high-quality and effective assistance, support the expression of deep insight into society and life, and accomplish unique and sparkling works.
IMAGE FORESTT POST-PRODUCTION AWARD: RANBIWA
Ranbiwa won the Image Forestt Post-Production Award, with non-cash support valued at 300,000 RMB provided by Image Forestt.
Image Forestt has always been committed to supporting young Chinese directors and Chinese independent art films. We hope to be more involved in the future, optimize the allocation of resources for film projects in the pre- and post-production phases, provide the best production platforms in the industry, customize the best technical solutions, and better help the development of China’s film industry.
EASY PRODUCTION BREAKTHROUGH AWARD: Lend Me A Gun LEND ME A GUN
Lend Me A Gun Lend Me A Gun won the Easy Production Breakthrough Award, sponsored by Yi Xin Entertainment with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB.
NEW FILM INCUBATION PROGRAM OF HUAYI FUND：A BORROWED LIFE
A Borrowed Life won the New Film Incubation Program Of Huayi Fund, with a cash award of 100,000 RMB sponsored by China Foundation For Human Rights Development.
Huayi Fund aims to encourage young filmmakers to keep the right and innovation, not forgetting their roots, telling Chinese stories, explaining the Chinese spirit, showing the Chinese style, striving to realize the grafting of excellent traditions and modern concepts, breaking through the difficulties of unifying the localization of the perseverance with the globalization of the vision, and creating more masterpieces.
HIXI MEDIA GROUP INGENUITY AWARD：ANONYMOUS BEASTS
Anonymous Beasts won the Hixi Media Group Ingenuity Award award，which was sponsored by Hixi Media Group with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB.
The first heart is in a square inch, and the first heart is in craftsmanship. Hixi Media Group encourages young filmmakers to follow the Spirit of Craftsman, to carve out all the works, pursue the ultimate, and create excellent works that are exciting and inspiring
GROUNDBREAKING AWARD：RANBIWA
Ranbiwa was awarded the Groundbreaking Award, which was sponsored by Flying Stone Film with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB.
Flying Stone Film”s “Groundbreaking Award” aims to help and encourage young creators to explore and innovate. Carving time in light and shadow, searching for the beauty of movies, bringing stories full of expectations with extraordinary creativity and unique perspectives, polishing the stone-breaking works with tireless craftsmanship, and contributing to the development of contemporary Chinese movies.
DREAM MAKER AWARD: MY GRAND FUNERAL
My Grand Funeral won the Dream Maker Award, a cash prize of 100,000 RMB sponsored by General Dream Studio.
Aiming to create cultural masterpieces with social significance and influence, General Dream Studio especially sets this award to encourage young filmmakers to explore and pioneer new film genres and cinematic expressions in order to promote industrial development while staying rooted in native culture. Hopefully, they will create more international film artistry and jointly initiate a better future for Chinese cinema.
BOOY ENGAGING WITH CINEMA PROJECT：INCREDIBLE WIND
Incredible Wind won the Booy Engaging With Cinema Project, sponsored by BOOY, with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB.
The aim of FIRST is to discover and assist the growth and emergence of fresh forces in the movie industry through the broad vision of FIRST. To meet with filmmakers, to conspire with artists, to catch the hidden light in the movie world, to ignite unique sparks, and to start a prairie fire.
“FUTURE STAR” POTENTIAL WORKS AWARD:THE LIBRARIAN
The Librarian won the “Future Star” Potential Works Award, sponsored by Meridian Entertainment with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB.
Sharing works of the heart, exploring the beauty of human nature – Meridian Entertainment’s “Future Star” Potential Works Award supports young filmmakers’ works of the heart, encourages young people to be truthful and courageous, and embark on a journey of the heart through the beauty of cinema, and contributes to the prosperity and development of Chinese cinema together.
FILM PATH PROJECT: INCREDIBLE WIND
Incredible Wind won the Film Path Project sponsored by Maoyan Entertainment with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB.
Pave the road of light and shadow with stories of life. On the road of pursuing the art of light and shadow, Maoyan Entertainment’s Film Path Project aims to encourage and help young creators in the industry; accompany young creators to grow together with high-quality resources, so that inspiration and stories can shine and set sail on the road of light and shadow.
INGENUITY AWARD:THE LITTLE GANSTERS
The Little Gansters won the Ingenuity Award sponsored by Lian Ray Picture with a cash award of 100,000 RMB.
Ingenuity Award is only to encourage young creators. As long as they can keep their hearts, endure loneliness, and put in efforts, we believe that young filmmakers will use their video knives and axes to carve down a bright time that belongs to them alone, and activate the spring water of the market with patience and craftsmanship.
MAXTIMES AWARD:FAREWELL, MY CHILDHOOD
Farewell, My Childhood won the Maxtimes Award, with a cash prize of 100,000 RMB sponsored by MaxTimes.
MART TOP MAXTIMES AWARD: THE MIDSUMMER’S VOICE
The MART TOP Award was awarded to The Midsummer’s Voice, with a cash prize of 200,000 RMB sponsored by MaxTimes.
Maklong is green in March, when everything is new and full of vitality. MaxTimes’s “MaxTimes Award” aims to encourage and assist young creators to have the ambition of a swan and the province of a sparrow, so that the seeds of art can sprout and blossom in the soil of reality, and bear fruit in the world of light and shadow.
When the film market becomes a platform for creating “dialog” and “immediate needs”, we return to the parent theme of author and market.
In this arena, there is a constant stream of applause and cheers, we applaud the good works and applaud the creators for their perseverance.
Here, legacy and innovation happen together.
If winning awards is a recognition for young creators, then beyond the awards, we reap the benefits of growth in the face of advice from the market. So before a movie becomes a movie, before meeting the audience, we invite young creators and representatives of the market to walk together on the road of finding quality expressions and market demands.
