CIFF 5
CIFF 5 opened in September 2008 at the Southeast University and lasted for 7 days. 75 screenings took place in 4 screening locations and daily booklets were available. CIFF 5 indicated that CIFF is getting mature. Results of CIFF award were widely acknowledged, and CIFF became the weather vane of Chinese independent cinema.
Jury
Wang Xiaoshuai
Film director
Hao Jian
Film scholar, screenwriter
Kang-sheng Lee（台湾）
Actor
Tian Yuan
Writer, actress, singer and songwriter
Zhu Qi
Art critic, independent curator
Awards and Comments
CIFF Highest Award ----Litter Moth
The experience of a passive girl artfully links all the characters and events. The director captured the living condition of a marginal group to present the current conditions of those socially disadvantaged in China. Yet at the same time, he dealt with this cruel and sad story in a restrained way. The film shows outstanding management of structure and characters, as well as excellent command of style. The casting and guiding of non-professional actors showed great skill. The film remained brave in the face of cruelness and successfully interrogated the issue of national characteristics. We award the CIFF Grand Prize to Litter Moth.
CIFF Award of the Committee -----Crossroads
Crossroads is an authentic and simple window into the life of rural high school students. It is smooth and sensitive, without exaggeration, but with touching and painful details. For these reasons, we give the CIFF Jury Prize to Crossroads.
CIFF Special Mention Award---- Sweet Food City
Though Sweet Food City did not win the highest award, the juries agreed that it substantially pushes the boundaries of cinematic explorations of Chinese urban life. It rejects the aesthetic of the ‘county film’, popular for the last decade, and offers new possibilities for urban cinematic language. It builds a convincing connection between new cinematic styles and the current living conditions of Chinese society. Therefore we support and admire it.
CIFF Award for the Best Student Shorts---- The 7th Medical Room
A small mental hospital serves as the scene for a modern Chinese version of the Ship of Fools and reveals a lack of tolerance in this society. The film shows great truth in its depiction of emotions and caring. Therefore we give the Best Student Shorts to The 7th Medical Room.
CIFF International Forum: Organization and Promotion of International Festival
Date: 11 September 2008
Location: Academy of Art, Southeast University
Host: Zhang Xianmin