Magnolia Awards jurors share ideas about their judging criteria

Magnolia Awards jurors share ideas about their judging criteria

By Alex Miao

Jurors for the Magnolia Awards of the 29th Shanghai Television Festival shared their judging criteria thoughts at a jury meeting on June 26.

They believed that truly outstanding works, regardless of category, should always be able to impress the audience.

The Magnolia Awards are allocated across the categories of Chinese drama, foreign drama, animation and documentary. With 10 entrants nominated for each section, and 15 in the variety category, a total of 55 productions are competing for the awards.

Chinese director Yan Jiangang, drama section jury chairman, said his judging criteria is “anything that is good is what I value, no matter the category." He vowed to reach award decisions based on a thorough discussion with every jury member.

British producer Eirwen Davies, a jury for foreign drama, adopts a broad approach. 

"As a professional filmmaker, I might look first at the content of the story but, as an audience member, I prefer to see how it touches me and why it moves me," Davis said. He was surprised by the number of countries from which films were nominated.

The judges of the animation and documentary categories shared similar viewpoints and judging criteria.

Mari Okada, a Japanese animation director, and Chen Liaoyu, a Chinese animation director, agreed that "animation is an expression that is closer to the heart, and can transcend languages and nationalities.” 

They agreed that “a really good work is one that can move everyone."

The chairman of the documentary judging panel, Indian director Vikram Channa, noted that all the shortlisted entries for this year are very outstanding.

“The work that will eventually win the award must be inspiring in its theme and it must have a certain structure," he said. 

"On the basis of these two points, I would like to put forward a higher requirement: that it should fully interact with the audience until it has reached the level of impressing the audience, that is to say, impressing me."