The director starts by learning from the abilities of renowned directors.

Chapter 13 Comparing Zhang Yimou

"Let me guess, this is a nomination for the Directors' Fortnight?"

Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week are not official sections of Cannes; separate applications are required.

Critics' Week requires the director's first or second feature film. Shen Qing had previously directed two TV movies, so the company did not submit the film to Critics' Week.

But the Directors' Bi-weekly was submitted, and Zhao Hongwei had discussed this with him beforehand.

Relatively speaking, the Directors' Fortnight is easier than the official sections. Also, the Directors' Fortnight itself does not have awards, but films nominated for the Directors' Fortnight can compete for Cannes awards.

For example, the Camera d'Or, SOCD Award, and European Feature Film Award.

Zhao Hongwei shook his head with a stern face.

But Shen Qing caught the slight smirk that appeared to come from the corner of his mouth.

It seems they really made the cut!

"Could it really have been shortlisted for the Un Certain Regard category?"

One Focus section is an official section, less competitive than the main competition section, and often serves as a springboard for new directors and directors of less commonly spoken languages. It aims to introduce the originality and diverse works of emerging international filmmakers.

"This year, there is indeed one Chinese-language film that has been nominated for the Un Certain Regard section, but it is 'The Journey,' produced by Professor Tian Zhuangzhuang and directed by Senior Yang Chao."

"So, it can't be that they've been shortlisted for the main competition, can it?"

Shen Qing was genuinely excited at this moment.

For a new director to be nominated in the Cannes main competition is enough to make a name for themselves in the domestic film industry; at this stage, the industry really recognizes that.

If they actually win Best Director or the Palme d'Or in the end, that would be amazing!

Zhao Hongwei still shook his head.

Wang Damin, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand it anymore.

"Old Zhao, stop keeping me in suspense! I can't stand it anymore!" He looked at Shen Qing, gave him a thumbs up, and laughed, "Junior, awesome! You've been selected for the midnight screening!"

The official Cannes competition is divided into competitive and non-competitive sections.

The highest level of competition is undoubtedly the main competition, and the biggest prize in the main competition is the Palme d'Or.

The next level after the main competition is a focus unit.

There are also non-competitive sections.

In theory, the non-competitive screening section is of the same caliber as the main competition section, and both have the highest-level treatment of holding official red carpet premieres at the Lumière Theatre, the largest theater in the Palais des Festivals. Although they are theoretically on the same level, the non-competitive screening section is still slightly less influential.

Then, the midnight screenings are part of the non-competitive screenings section, designed specifically for late-night screenings. They are more commercial than the non-competitive screenings section, focusing on violent, thriller, erotic, cult films, crime, horror, and musical films, often showing Korean films, Hong Kong films, and B-movies.

In other words, putting aside actual influence, theoretically the scale of the main competition is equal to that of the non-competitive screenings, which are equivalent to midnight screenings.

When a film nominated for any of these three awards premieres in Cannes, the city hosts a top-tier official red carpet premiere at the Lumière Theatre, the largest and most prestigious theater in the city, with the artistic director of Cannes often in person to offer his congratulations.

The screenings of films nominated for the Un Certain Regard section were held in the Debussy Hall, and there was no official red carpet; the difference in treatment was obvious.

In fact, the style of "Fame and Fortune" is quite fitting for this midnight screening.

Zhao Hongwei finally stopped having a stern face, and Shen Qing felt that his mouth was about to stretch to his ears in a wide grin.

"It's all set! This time it's really secured! Selling the overseas rights for a million dollars isn't impossible!"

He then got up and sat down next to Shen Qing, putting his arm around Shen Qing's shoulder and saying, "Don't worry, your senior won't treat you unfairly. There's a surprise, a huge surprise, after the movie is released!"

Shen Qing put his hand on Zhao Hongwei's shoulder, and the two senior and junior brothers put their arms around each other's shoulders: "Thank you, senior. I knew you wouldn't treat me unfairly."

"Movies are ensemble pieces; we can't have all the main characters go to Cannes. Pick a few, and we'll head to Cannes in May!"

"The first one has to be Liu Yifei. Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is very popular right now, and she will definitely be the main person in charge of promotion when the movie is released. It doesn't really matter whether the others go or not."

"Let's bring Wan Qian along too. It's a bit unfair that the second female lead is going while the first female lead isn't."

"Let's include Guo Jingfei among the male actors. If we have to choose a leading man, it would actually be Li Jiahui."

"Bring Ni Dahong along too, he's a veteran actor who starred in 'To Live'."

"I'll personally inform Liu Yifei," Shen Qing suddenly blurted out.

Then Zhao Hongwei and Wang Damin both looked at him.

"Hey, don't overthink it. She's so young. I'm a little younger than her... It's not really a misunderstanding, it's just a difference in perspective. She might be a little unhappy, and Brother Wang knows about it."

Wang Damin said, "Well, it was Yifei who enthusiastically gave Shen Qing a few suggestions, which I found quite reasonable. Shen Qing directly told her not to worry about things and just act according to the script. The girl finally mustered up the courage to give her suggestions, but none of them were adopted, and her tone seemed a bit harsh. I guess she's a little unhappy."

Shen Qing said, "There are some things that can't be leaked out of my mouth. Otherwise, with an official stance, it will damage the film's open interpretation. We'll still need their help during the film's promotion, so let's appease them if we can."

"Hey, you guys really do know what I mean," Zhao Hongwei said, as if he had suddenly thought of something particularly interesting. "I was thinking of saying this when the film was first edited, but then I forgot. Even though you're seven or eight years older than Liu Yifei, and she's still quite young, you two really look like a perfect match when you stand together in the movie!"

Shen Qing grinned upon hearing this and said, "If Aunt Liu heard this, she'd probably be tempted to grab a kitchen knife and chop me up."

Zhao Hongwei laughed and said, "That's not necessarily true. Maybe you'll like it more and more as you watch it! You're so young, and you've already been nominated for a Cannes Film Festival film. You're definitely a young prodigy!"

"Come on, when other people hear the words 'midnight show,' they immediately think of something unhealthy."

Wang Damin joked, "Midnight screenings usually show a lot of explicit and stimulating films."

Shen Qing nodded silently and said, "Yes, we will show some really exciting films, but that's all. Our movies will be just normal."

……

Time flies, and it's already April 26th. The Cannes Film Festival has finally officially released the list of films nominated for the 57th Cannes Film Festival.

Wang Jiawei's "2046" has been shortlisted for the main competition.

Yang Chao, a young director who also graduated from the Beijing Film Academy, had his debut feature film, "Journey," shortlisted for the Un Certain Regard section.

Zhang Yimou's "House of Flying Daggers" and Johnnie To's "Breaking News" were both selected for non-competitive screenings.

Shen Qing's "Making a Name for Oneself" was selected for the midnight screening of the non-competitive screening section.

It's finally official!

As soon as the Cannes Film Festival organizing committee announced the film list, Shen Qing called Liu Xiaoli.

"Aunt Liu, I'm Shen Qing."

"Oh, it's Director Shen. Is there something you need?"

"I'd like to ask if Yifei is available in the middle of next month? The production team of 'Fame and Fortune' is going to Cannes for promotion, and they're saying that even if no one else can go, they want to invite Yifei."

"Yifei probably won't be able to go; filming will likely wrap up at the end of May... Has 'Fame and Fortune' rented a booth at Cannes?"

Cannes is not only a film festival, but also a huge film trading market where films that are not selected can rent booths and sell their films.

Liu Xiaoli clearly thought that Shen Qing meant renting an exhibition booth at Cannes when he said he was going to Cannes.

"Aunt Liu, actually, 'Fame and Fortune' has been nominated, and the production team wants to invite my junior to walk the red carpet in Cannes to promote the film."

silence.

A moment later, the person on the other end of the phone asked, "You've been shortlisted? Then... what are your chances of winning?"

"Hmm..." Shen Qing scratched his head and said, "The chances of winning are zero, because the shortlisted films are non-competitive screenings and don't participate in the awards... By the way, Aunt Liu, actually, director Zhang Yimou's latest film, 'House of Flying Daggers,' was also shortlisted for a non-competitive screening."