Golden Panda Awards toast exchanges, artistic passion

Renowned directors, filmmakers, screenwriters and musicians from China and abroad – including Chinese director Zhang Yimou and UK filmmaker Malcolm Clarke – attended the first Golden Panda Awards Ceremony as judges.

They deliberated on Sept 20 in Chengdu, capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan province.

As an international cultural event, the award aims to foster cultural exchanges and create a global community with a shared future in films.

In total, 25 awards in four categories – film, TV dramas, documentaries and animations – were selected at the global event.

Nahuel Perez Biscayart from Argentina won the award for Best Actor in A Leading Role in the film category for Persian Lessons.

He said in his acceptance speech that he went to Germany and Russia to make the film and was now getting this award in China, for which he was incredibly grateful.

His award was said to confirm what Stelios Virvidakis, president of the Steering Committee of the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations, expressed.

Virvidakis told the first Golden Panda International Cultural Forum, a branch activity of the event held on the same day, that civilizations could not be closed entities, but must engage in continuous exchanges in dialogue.

Chinese actress Ni Hongjie received the Best Actress in A Supporting Role in the film category for B For Busy. "Acting is a profession that I have always been passionate about," she said.

"No matter how much or little my role is in a film, I have a responsibility to act well," she added.

Liu Jiangjiang, a newcomer Chinese director, won the Best Director Award in the film category for Lighting Up the Stars. He received the trophy from director Zhang Yimou's hands.

"Receiving the trophy from the director I admire most, I feel that today is my lucky day," he said.