Chinese actress Xin Zhilei won the Best Actress award at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival for her heart-wrenching performance in The Sun Rises on Us All.
Directed by Chinese filmmaker Cai Shangjun, the film portrays a tragic romance of former lovers entangled by fate and unable to find redemption.
Xin was presented with the trophy by Chinese actress Zhao Tao, a member of the international jury for this year’s competition.
The Third Best Actress of China
In her acceptance speech, Xin said she felt both honoured and proud to stand on the festival’s stage as a Chinese actress.
She thanked the film’s crew and offered words of encouragement to young girls. She said: “To all the girls out there, if you have a dream, dare to imagine it and go after it ——you never know, it might just come true.”
The last time a Chinese actress won the award was in 2011, when Hong Kong cinema icon Deanie Ip Tak-han took home the prize. Before that, mainland China’s film queen Gong Li became the first Chinese actress to win in 1992.
Xin was born in Heilongjiang and graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, one of China’s top art schools.
Xin first gained international recognition for her role in the 2016 film Crosscurrent. The film was the sole Asian entry in the official competition at the Berlin International Film Festival that year, which won an award for cinematography.
She is also known for her notable role in Blossoms Shanghai, a 2023 TV series directed by the renowned Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai.
A Better Understanding of China from Films
The Venice Film Festival welcomes a stronger presence of Chinese cinema, recognising its important role on the international stage. The festival endeavours to serve as a platform for global cinematic dialogue, festival director Alberto Barbera has said.
Barbera said this year’s festival features a large number of Chinese films across various sections. “This marks a comeback of Chinese cinema on the international level, which is very positive,” he said.
Chinese directors are mature and talented. They tell stories rooted in their country and culture, which Western audiences are most interested in. By watching Chinese films, we gain a better understanding of this important country,” he said.
Barbera underlined that the Venice Film Festival is more than a showcase. With films from 65 countries and regions being screened this year, it provides “an open public space” that seeks “to build bridges between countries and cultures.”
Written by Gu Yetao, additional reporting by Xinhua, People’s Daily.
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