Song Pengfei wins the Gold Hugo for New Directors at Chicago Film Festival. (Photo : www.chinaculture.org)
Chinese director Song Pengfei's "Underground Fragrance" recently grabbed the Best Film award at the Venice International Film Festival, as awarded by Federo, the Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean.
The award was given to the Chinese title in the festival's independent section, Venice Days, which was largely promoted by the Italian Association of Filmmakers and Italy's audio-visual authors group, 100 Autori.
According to Federo, "Underground Fragrance" is a "sensitive and intelligent" piece that reveals the underbelly of China's modern society. The group also lauded its directorial job, which was done with "great skill and conviction."
"Underground Fragrance" marks as Song's first feature film. Song is a film-direction alumnus of the Institut International de l'Image et du Son in France.
The film follows the story of three individuals struggling to survive and reach their dreams in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
"I consider this award as a great encouragement for me and for all the people who worked with me to make 'Underground France,'" Song remarked in an interview with the Xinhua News Agency after receiving the award.
"All of them made big efforts and helped me a lot as it was my first experience as a film director," he added.
Despite the praises, Song admitted that he still has a long way to go and he is passionate to continue working hard.
Nonetheless, he said that this Venice Film Festival recognition will always serve as a helping hand whenever he will face difficulties.
Song also said that he "will continue to focus on common people and get the inspiration through the life of those that are around me."
