Film Jurors Share Secrets to Discovering New Talent

Jurors for the Asian New Talent, Short Film, Animation, and Documentary sections of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival convened to discuss their evaluation standards. The Asian New Talent jury, led by Singaporean director Anthony Chen, emphasized valuing sincerity and fresh perspectives over a filmmaker's age or experience.

Jurors for short films highlighted the format's capacity for pure expression and authentic emotion, while the animation jury noted the growing global presence of Chinese animation. Documentary jury members underscored the genre's power to foster cross-cultural understanding by revealing humanity and telling compelling stories, prioritizing genuine emotion.

Emerging filmmakers face internal pressures in finding their direction, with execution being crucial during these formative stages. The discussions covered the importance of individual voices in new talent films and the potential for Chinese animation to achieve wider international theatrical releases.