Among those involved in the controversy was Feng Shaofeng, who won Best Actor for his role in the Cultural Revolution drama "Wolf Totem." (Photo : Getty Images)
The Golden Rooster & Hundred Flowers Film Festival, one of mainland China's biggest film festivals, is facing backlash from critics saying its biggest awards in the acting categories were chosen based on popularity rather than acting talent.
Originally separate film festivals--the Golden Rooster Film Festival was established in 1981 and its winners chosen by esteemed industry professionals, while the Hundred Flowers Film Festival was established in 1962 and gave out awards based on votes made by the public--the two events combined into one in 1992. Each of the two sub-festivals take turns on even and odd numbered years, and as this year is an even year the winners are chosen by popular vote.
At the awards ceremony on Saturday night, the Best Leading Actor Award went to Feng Shaofeng for his performance in the historical drama "Wolf Totem", which also bagged the Golden Rooster for Best Film, edging out award-winning actors "Feng Xiaogang in "Mr. Six," Huang Bo in "Dearest" and Deng Chao in "The Dead End."
Local heartthrob Li Yifeng also won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Mr. Six, besting beating out actors Duan Yihong in "The Dead End" and Zhang Yi in "Dearest."
The Best Supporting Actress Award went to Angelababy, who skirted controversy in China over her supposedly mediocre acting, for her performance in "Mojin: The Lost Legend."
Once highly regarded, the film festival's influence has been declining, with industry insiders, the media and film-lovers claiming it is trying to "bring in viewer numbers by relying on hot young stars who have millions of young fans willing to spend money to support their idols," the state-owned Global Times newspaper reported on Monday.
The festival also drew controversy over its Best New Director Award to Chen Jianbin for his film "A Fool," which has not been released in mainland China due to the drug arrest of cast member Wang Xuebing. The film, an adventure comedy-drama based on a popular Chinese novella, earned Chen the Best Director prize at the Golden Horse awards in Taiwan in November last year.
The Best Actress category was also a surprise, with the prize going to 75-year-old Mongolian actress Ba Dema for her role in "Norjmaa." Favorites in the category had been Vicky Zhao Wei and Tang Wei.
