Golden Goblet Jurors Outline Selection Criteria for Asian New Talent, Shorts, Animation and Documentary Awards

Jurors for the Asian New Talent, Short Film, Animation and Documentary sections of the Golden Goblet Awards at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival shared their judging criteria and industry observations during the festival's second jury meeting on June 14.

The Asian New Talent jury, chaired by Singaporean director Anthony Chen, includes Indonesian director Kamila Andini, Chinese director Liu Jiayin, Kazakh director Farkhat Sharipov and Chinese actress Wen Qi.

Asked about his criteria for evaluating emerging filmmakers, Chen, whose film "Ilo Ilo" won the Caméra d'Or award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, said age and experience were not determining factors.

"What I really value is whether a creator is truly sincere and willing to adopt new lenses and ideas to break conventions," Chen said. "New talents often demonstrate a vigorous and passionate creative attitude."

The Short Film jury, led by Portuguese director João Salaviza and joined by German animator Lena von Döhren and Chinese director Qiu Sheng, also outlined their perspectives on the medium.

Salaviza described short films as one of cinema's purest forms of expression, emphasizing that authentic emotion remains at the heart of compelling short-form storytelling.

The Animation jury is chaired by British director Will Becher, whose credits include "A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon." Joining him are Indian filmmaker Gitanjali Rao and Chinese director Yu Shui.

Discussing the rise of Chinese animation on the international stage, Becher noted that more Chinese animated productions are gaining visibility worldwide.

"From a global perspective, an increasing number of Chinese animated works have appeared in many fields, including the Oscar selection process," he said. "This is undoubtedly remarkable and exciting."

While opportunities to watch Chinese animated films in the United Kingdom remain limited, Becher expressed hope that more of the country's productions will secure wider theatrical releases overseas.

The Documentary jury, consisting of American filmmakers Geeta Gandbhir and Carla Gutierrez, alongside Chinese director Liu Qing, concluded the session by reflecting on the role of documentary cinema in bridging cultures.

"Through documentaries, we can connect with each other, understand each other's cultures, and listen to each other's stories," Gandbhir said. "There is a core principle for documentary filmmaking: to reveal humanity and tell compelling stories."

Winners of the Golden Goblet Awards will be announced at the festival's award ceremony on June 20, bringing this year's competition to a close.