Jury Meeting of Magnolia Awards: Global Masterpieces Gather, While Original and Authentic Works Remain the Standard

The 29th Shanghai Television Festival Magnolia Awards garnered nearly a thousand entries from 57 countries and regions across five continents. Compared to last year, the international coverage has further spanned, with the participation rate of overseas works hitting a new high, and film and television industry experts from multiple countries invited as jury members to evaluate on a plethora of outstanding works converged from around the world. On June 26th, jury members from the drama, documentary, and animation categories were present at the Magnolia Awards jury meet-and-greet to elaborate on their criteria for judging excellent works and to discuss industry-related topics.

Drama Category:

Fierce Competition, Multidimensional Evaluation

Yan Jiangang, the jury president of the drama section and a renowned director, disclosed the rigorous selection process. "The jury members are highly consistent in terms of values and aesthetic philosophy, which means there is a basic consensus on the evaluation of each work. However, as the saying goes, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder,' and different perspectives will lead to different evaluations of specific works or individual awards. We will reach a final agreement after thorough discussion. If there is any disagreement, we will follow the voting mechanism stipulated in the selection rules, and the decision will be made based on the number of votes."

Actress Hai Qing noted that Chinese dramas have become more diverse in recent years, showing healthier development and significant professional achievements. "Diversity in style is a natural market trend and a responsibility for us as industry practitioners. I look forward to more heartfelt works that offer meaningful insights and expressions."

Art director Han Zhong affirmed the artistic and visual achievements of Chinese dramas. "The progress is remarkable, with various aesthetic expressions and distinctive Eastern qualities, which is very gratifying to see."

Writer and literary critic Li Yuesen revealed his criteria for evaluation, stating, "What I value most is the artistic appeal. Any work that lacks artistic appeal and fails to resonate with the audience cannot be considered a good piece. Of course, an excellent work also needs profound ideas, exquisite artistry, and superior production."

Screenwriter Wang Xiaoqiang understands deeply the immense effort a writer puts into a series. "From writing the first word of the first work to making it to the Magnolia Awards nominations, everyone spends a long time, racking their brains and putting in relentless effort. The nominated works this time around are also vastly diverse in style."

Discussing the rapport between directors and actors, director Yang Lei emphasized the importance of mutual selection before filming begins. "Every character has its own attributes. The initial selection has a significant impact. Afterwards, we engage in extensive communication, including script readings and on-site interactions, which often spark new ideas."

Actor You Yongzhi mentioned that the jury focuses on the overall quality of the work rather than any single aspect. "The success of a film is comprehensive – direction, cinematography, art direction, script, and acting all come together. This year’s nominated works are highly competitive, making our job difficult because we can only choose one winner."

British producer Eirwen Davies was deeply moved by the number of outstanding works from different countries. Regarding the evaluation process, she said, "First and foremost, I will view the overall content of the story. I will also try to see it from the audience's perspective – why they love the series, what leads them to care about the story, what attracts them, and what moves them. These are the angles from which I evaluate."

French actor Andy Friend believes that originality is the most crucial aspect of an excellent work, encompassing story structure, acting, and artistic creation. "As a Westerner, I try to view these works from the perspective of a Chinese audience because, when judging foreign dramas, we must consider how they will be received by Chinese viewers. However, film and television are universal. Besides originality, I also focus on technical aspects and the actors' performances."

Documentary Category:

Themes Must Be Inspiring

At the jury meeting, Vikram Channa, jury president of the documentary section and Indian director and producer, outlined the clear standards for judging the works. "Firstly, the theme must be inspiring, thought-provoking, and culturally communicative. Secondly, the structural integrity of the subject matter is crucial. Thirdly, the interaction with the audience, the degree to which it moves and communicates with the audience, is essential." Vikram Channa also emphasized the importance of authenticity in documentaries in today's information-saturated world.

Chinese director Xiao Han, another jury member in the documentary category, expressed that Chinese documentaries are experiencing a golden era, with diverse themes and frequent international accolades. However, with short videos and streaming media dominating viewers' attention today, long documentaries still face challenges. "Documentary creators should not completely reject this phenomenon but rather try to embrace and adapt to it. For instance, by adjusting their creative methods, they can reach a broader audience and influence more people with their works."

Authenticity was a key point raised by all the documentary jurors. Dutch documentary director Ton van Zantvoort noted that documentaries inherently capture real stories, and their various elements should complement each other. "A good documentary requires excellent cinematography, a dedicated recording team, and compelling content to achieve perfection. I enjoy this process, whether it involves collecting stories, interacting with people, or the tedious editing work, because it allows me to document reality through the lens."

Animation Category:

Transcending Cultures and Touching Hearts

Frederic Puech, jury president of the animation section and French animation producer, values overall quality and innovation in evaluating outstanding works. He revealed that his first animation studio was established in Shanghai. "Animation has endless possibilities," Puech said. "As long as you have ideas, you can achieve your dreams in animation."

For animation director Chen Liaoyu, animation is a form of expression that is closer to the heart, where imagination springs from the mind. "While traditional films use real-world objects to convey messages, animation directors can express through drawings and various tools. I believe the mind is the most free, and thus, the expression of animation directors is the most liberated. Especially in terms of international exchange, animation can easily break the cultural and historical barriers of the physical world because it directly touches the heart."

Japanese animation writer and director Mari Okada noticed that the three members of the animation category come from different cultural backgrounds, yet their thoughts aligned during the evaluation process. "This shows that animation not only expresses culture but also resonates with the emotions of the characters, creating a universal appeal. I believe this is the charm of animation—it can transcend language and nationality, and truly great works can touch everyone's heart."

The jury members also noted that they are currently working intensively and racing against time. Who will win this year's Magnolia Awards? The 29th Shanghai TV Festival's Magnolia Awards Ceremony will be held on June 28th at the Lingang Performing Arts Center. Stay tuned.

The 29th STVF is hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration, China Media Group, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and organized by Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television and Shanghai Media Group, with co-organization by the Administration Committee of Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and special support from Shanghai Lingang Special Area Investment Holding (Group) Co., Ltd.