The 38th Golden Rooster Awards highlight China’s rising film stars and diverse feature films, showcasing innovation, emerging directors, and new trends in Chinese cinema.
The 38th Golden Rooster Awards concluded on the evening of November 15th in Xiamen, providing a clear glimpse into the country’s evolving film industry.
Diverse Storytelling Meets Audience Demand
The Best Feature Film nominations showcased a wide range of genres. Historical epic The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death competed alongside the arthouse drama Her Story and the socially-focused film Big World. Ultimately, Her Story won the Best Feature Film award.
According to Zhang Aigong, associate professor at Xiamen University’s Film School, the inclusion of the suspense film Decoded demonstrates that commercial genres are gaining artistic depth. Meanwhile, films like Big World and Her Story explore social realities, blending contemporary relevance with artistic value. Many works also integrate traditional cultural elements with modern themes. By combining innovative storytelling and the latest technology, these films meet domestic audience expectations while showing potential for international viewers.
The awards recognised excellence across multiple categories. Chen Maoxian and Zheng Weiji won Best Screenplay for The Last Dance, and Gao Peng’s A Long Shot earned Best Directorial Debut. Fate of the Moonlight took Best Medium/Low-Budget Feature Film, while Shining Youth: Air Relay won Best Children’s Film. The Italian film There’s Still Tomorrow received Best Foreign Language Film, Min Opera Double Butterfly Fan won Best Chinese Opera Film, and Your Voice earned Best Documentary/Science & Education Film. Animated cinema was highlighted as Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, which has earned over RMB 15 billion at the global box office, and won Best Animated Film.
Young Talent and Emerging Directors Lead the Way
Top actors in the running for Best Actor included Dapeng, Zhu Yilong, Liu Haoran, Jackson Yee, and Huang Xiaoming. Jackson Yee won for his portrayal of Liu Chunhe, a character with cerebral palsy in Big World, becoming the youngest actor ever to receive the award. Best Actress nominees included Michelle Wai, Song Jia, Yong Mei, Duan Aojuan, and Xu Haipeng, reflecting a growing generation of actors steadily taking on major roles and building loyal audiences.
At the same time, emerging directors also made a strong impression. Dai Mo won Best Director for Detective Chinatown 1900, emphasising his embrace of new technologies and storytelling approaches. Veteran director Zhang Yimou commented that young creators represent the future of Chinese cinema, with many nominations featuring first-time works by emerging directors.
The Golden Rooster Awards not only honour excellence but also highlight the trends shaping China’s cinema today, offering insights for audiences at home and abroad.
Additional reporting by Xinhua, CNS.
If you liked this article, why not read: Highlights of China’s Golden Rooster Film Festival
