Chapter 2690 - 2752: Cannes Film Festival

As parents, these five short words seem easy, but in fact, they are extremely heavy. Only those who have become parents, and are normal parents, can understand the bitterness, the joys, and the responsibilities involved. As Su Lio said, the fact that one can become a parent without having to pass an exam is truly terrifying. In reality, this is indeed the case. Giving birth and raising a child is not just about providing a good living and material conditions. In the process of a child’s growth, parents are the first and lifelong teachers, and the most important ones.

You can’t expect the school teachers to teach the children so many things, nor can you expect society to teach them. Therefore, the words and deeds of parents and family members are particularly important, affecting the child’s future growth.

Su Lio felt that she hadn’t figured it out yet, or she just started thinking and was thinking too little. Li Yifei fully understood, and he would support her and was also very happy. The little girl could communicate with him instead of keeping it to herself, which was a good thing.

Well, Su Lio felt that doing such things in broad daylight in the kitchen was even harder to accept than having children now. So she fiercely resisted, throwing Li Yifei into a disarray, losing helmets and abandoning armor. However, even though she injured the enemy, she harmed herself as well, taking a while to recover. In the Li family, the saying does not quite hold – there’s no bad land, only exhausted cattle. Nowadays, the land easily gets worn out, while the cattle remain vigorous.

After leaving Su Lio, the two girls were still sleeping, while Li Yifei sneaked over to Ning Xin’er. She had just arrived home and didn’t even know Li Yifei was back. Upon seeing him, Ning Xin’er was surprised and snuggled into his arms, rubbing for a while before letting go, saying, "Hubby, why didn’t you say a word when you came back!"

"Haha, I did say; it’s just that you didn’t see it," Li Yifei laughed.

"Ah?" Ning Xin’er blinked, sticking out her tongue a bit sheepishly, "Sorry, there were so many things going on these days, I didn’t have time to look at these things!"

"What’s keeping you busy?" Li Yifei asked.

Upon hearing this, Ning Xin’er became interested, pulled Li Yifei to sit down, took out her phone, opened a link, and handed it to Li Yifei triumphantly.

"Oh? Let me have a look!" Li Yifei became intrigued. Ning Xin’er acting so mysteriously surely had a reason. He took the phone and carefully looked; it was a link to entertainment news. The headline was from the online site of some authoritative domestic newspaper, with a big title saying: "Congratulations to Director Ning Xin’er’s work ’Eternal’ for being nominated at the Cannes Film Festival, earning three nominations."

When Li Yifei saw this headline, he raised his eyebrows, showing a smile of surprise, and said while reading, "You... I knew you made a film, but it got into the Cannes Film Festival?"

Leaning against him, Ning Xin’er showed a proud smile, shaking her head at his words, "Why, is it perhaps surprising?"

"Haha, not surprising, but I’m very happy. My darling has this talent, great at singing and also at making films," Li Yifei laughed.

"That’s more like it! Keep reading, we still have some hope this time!" Ning Xin’er urged.

Li Yifei focused and continued reading below the title, "’Eternal’ received three nominations, including Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress. Wow, those are major awards!"

They truly are major awards. The Cannes International Film Festival, also known as the Cannes International Film Festival, established in 1939, is one of the most influential and prestigious international film festivals in the world today. Together with the Venice International Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival, it is known as one of the three major film festivals in Europe, with the highest award being the "Palme d’Or." The current Cannes Film Festival is held annually in mid-May, lasting about 12 days, usually opening on a Wednesday and closing on the Sunday of the following week. During this period, in addition to the film competition, there is also a market exhibition. The festival is divided into six sections: "Official Competition," "Directors’ Fortnight," "Un Certain Regard," "Critics’ Week," "French Cinema New Outlook," and "Out-of-Market Exhibition."

As a rising star, Huaxia’s filmmakers highly value international awards. Every year, many directors and actors hope their works can compete for world awards, win some, and bring glory to the country, while also adding a credential to their resume.

Unfortunately, in the Western world, sometimes these film awards show bias, and Huaxia’s environment doesn’t suit shooting overly sharp films. Therefore, in major festivals like Cannes, Venice, and others, even if Huaxia’s films are nominated, it’s often hard to win. However, a nomination alone is already very difficult to achieve, with typically only one or two films reaching this level every few years, although they have been recognized with the highest awards at times.

In recent years, Huaxia has not had any entries, so the domestic websites are reporting it this way. Especially entering into these three heavyweight categories, it’s no wonder Ning Xin’er is so happy. After all, it’s her debut, her first film completed and already nominated for such high awards. Moreover, it achieved this without the help of the Li family, purely on the merit of the work itself, barging into the Cannes Film Festival and earning a nomination.

Li Yifei also felt quite encouraged, reading this report word for word. With the cellphone in hand, he nodded continuously, saying, "Wife, you’re amazing; achieving this on your first film. Whether we win any awards, as your husband, I’m proud of you!"

"With three nominations, just winning one award will satisfy me!" Ning Xin’er chimed in.

"Haha, Best Director Award will do; we can get the others later!" Li Yifei followed. It was as if he could already influence the Cannes juries, securing the director award.

However, since the Cannes Film Festival won’t be held until May next year, and Ning Xin’er’s "Immortality" is also releasing next year, the timing aligns. But right now, it’s already getting attention. It’s worth noting that when the Li family established a film company, it was essentially for Ning Xin’er, Li Xinyue, and the others, not really expecting the company to make money. But they were never stingy with funding, investing whenever necessary. The women at home also supported, encouraging them, visiting during TV shows, or movie shoots.

Speaking of visits, Li Yifei indeed felt a bit negligent, never visiting once. The Li family built a shooting area at a local scenic spot, and he hadn’t been there. Unexpectedly, Ning Xin’er quietly made a big hit with her first work, getting nominated for three important awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Even if it’s just a nomination, it’s inspiring enough, and the domestic media doesn’t even need to spend money to promote; compliments are flowing freely on paper. When Li Yifei checked Twitter, sure enough, several entries of hot news were already there, with netizens expressing their anticipation.

This film is of a niche genre, as the name suggests, and even some philosophical reflection. The actors aren’t big stars, though not all newcomers, they aren’t very famous either. Unlike those high-paid big stars, Ning Xin’er chose actors with acting skills. Even if they were newcomers, they stood out rather than being mere eye-candy, and she didn’t pick any of those. In her words, my films don’t rely on selling sex and homoeroticism to attract people, but on depth.

Of course, this rhetoric isn’t popular in the domestic film market. Take a look at the supernatural themes, youth themes, even costume themes, and the women are almost all scantily dressed, relying on selling sex to make a living.

"A script is the life of a film, while the actors’ performances are the branches and vines of this tree, the roots and flesh. The selling of sex and looks are secondary. Some domestic film companies miss the mark, thinking that hiring so-called big stars, fresh meat, and pretty beauties, coupled with a major IP, can make a good movie. That’s a joke and an extremely irresponsible act of deceiving fans. So, when shooting, I thought about finding a good script, with depth, but also one the audience could understand, not obscure. The sisters gave me enough funding, even said investing five billion was fine, suggesting I hire big stars. But after thinking about it, I refused; it’s not that I won’t use big stars, but big stars need depth. Merely having a face isn’t enough; I need acting elites, not wooden posts. So those fresh meat I directly passed on. Considered a few old movie kings, but their image and temperament didn’t quite fit with the film, so I gave up on them too," Ning Xin’er explained bit by bit, leaning in Li Yifei’s arms.

Li Yifei nodded in agreement, saying, "That’s true. Every year numerous bad films are released, devoid of story, acting skills, or depth, purely cashing in on fans, which is despicable conduct of sheer businessmen!"

"Exactly! Watching those films is disgusting. Many online speculate that Huaxia’s filmmakers haven’t been educated well, unable to craft good scripts, while actors seem hastily put together, unable to learn acting skills? Even bringing someone with Er Kang’s iconic nostril-breathing type of acting would work... Haha, the two of us are echoing that mockery. Regardless, being director and producer myself, we have money, and can buy talent, so why not make what we want to make? Even if it doesn’t align with the mainstream market’s tastes, but... I still made it!" Ning Xin’er puffed her chest with pride and said.

"I agree with you, which also aligns with my beliefs. So, wife, I’m proud of you this time," Li Yifei said earnestly.