The ninth Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival opened inside the 14th-century Chinese walled city on Tuesday with a celebration of Shanxi province’s cinematic legacy, live music, dance and the presentation of its signature East-West award to director Feng Xiaogang.
Proceedings took place at the Platform open-air theatre, a 1,500-seat venue named after Jia Zhangke’s 2000 film. Indie band Orange Ocean launched the evening with “Summer Cozy Rock,” followed by a montage of landmark Shanxi-set films, ranging from Zhang Yimou’s “Raise the Red Lantern” to Jia’s own “Platform” and “Ash Is Purest White.” A stylized dance based on an ancient sacrificial ritual added a cultural flourish before the program concluded with the world premiere of Zhang Dalei’s short “Happy New Year Mr. Wood.”
Festival founder, Shanxi native Jia Zhangke, welcomed the audience, noting that this year’s lineup spans 53 films from 20 territories, including 30% world premieres and 62% Asian premieres. He also flagged the special showcase “People Will Triumph,” devoted to films about the Chinese resistance during World War II.
The Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East-West Award, which honors achievements in cinema and contributions to the development of East-West film culture, was presented in two parts. First, a career recognition went to Nogami Teruyo, the 98-year-old Japanese producer, script supervisor and author who collaborated extensively with Kurosawa Akira on classics from “Rashomon” through “Ran.” Nogami, unable to travel, sent a letter of thanks that was read aloud on stage.
The award was also bestowed on Feng Xiaogang, recognized for his contributions to Chinese cinema across comedy, drama and historical epics. Writer-producer Liu Zhenyun and director Guan Hu presented the trophy to Feng, who received a standing ovation. “Making films is a long road that requires persistence,” Feng said, adding that he would continue his creative journey.
Actor Yao Chen, serving as a jury member for the Rossellini Honor Award, told the audience: “The last time I came to Pingyao was as an actress; this time I’m here as a jury member. Next time, I hope I can come purely as a tourist.” She said she looked forward to connecting with young directors and drawing inspiration from their work.
Pop singer Wu Mochou later performed the theme from “The Banquet,” bringing a mainstream note to the otherwise auteur-driven evening.
The night also previewed Bi Gan’s “Resurrection,” starring Jackson Yee, Shu Qi and Zhao Youting, which bowed earlier this year at Cannes and is now set for its China launch at Pingyao.