Pingyao International Film Festival unveils award winners

Awards for the 5th Pingyao International Film Festival were unveiled on Oct 18 in Pingyao county in North China's Shanxi province.

They included some 20 awards, including the International Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award, Roberto Rossellini Awards, and Feimu Awards. 

Directors Huang Xufeng, Wang Zijian, and Xie Meng were given the International Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award.

The Roberto Rossellini Awards were set up by the Roberto Rossellini Foundation at the Pingyao festival to convey the famous Italian director's humanitarian spirit by encouraging and rewarding outstanding new filmmakers and spurring the development of film.

The Best Film of the Roberto Rossellini Awards were given to Feathers by Omar El Zohairy and the Best Director winner was India's Natesh Hegde for Pedro, a Kannada feature film.

Fei Mu is one of the most influential directors in Chinese film history. With the authorization of his family, the Fei Mu Awards launched at the Pingyao festival aim to carry on the director's aesthetic legacy, support promising filmmakers from Chinese-speaking regions and encourage the development of Chinese language films. 

The Best Film and Best Director winners of the Fei Mu Awards were Journey to the West and Wei Shujun for Ripples of Life.

The two also won Youth Jury Awards, which serve as a window to the potential of Chinese film, give the young generation a voice, and foster synergy between young viewers and fresh film talent.