A policeman in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin was awarded best
actor at the 11th Shanghai International Film Festival yesterday for his
unaffected performance in a domestic film.
It was the first time for Ma Guowei, who has been a policeman in Harbin for
more than 10 years, to act on the big screen and play the part of a policeman in
the film "Old Fish."
"I'm very nervous, so I ask the film director Gao Shuqun to accompany me to
the podium," Ma told the audience while being awarded the prize at the film
festival, which was concluded yesterday evening.
Gao Shuqun is widely known for directing "Tokyo Trial" in 2006.
The "Old Fish" was awarded "Jury Grand Prix."
In the film adapted from a true story of a blackmailing case, a policeman
nicknamed "Old Fish" who has no experience of removing bombs is ordered to
defuse the threat of a bomb. But when he removes a bomb, another appears. The
"Old Fish" finally gets rid of 11 bombs within 48 hours.
The release of the film has been postponed for attending the festival. It
will be shown across the country from Wednesday.
The best actress award goes to Emilia Vasaryova for her performance in Czech
Republic's film of "Vaclav," and the best director goes to Maris Martinsons from
Lithuania for directing the film of "Loss."
Cannes-winning Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai headed the jury at the June
14-22 festival, whose top prize was Jin Jue or "Golden Goblet" prize.
The Shanghai International Film Festival, initiated in 1993, is the only of
its kind in China and one of the two Category A international film festivals in
Asia.