Actress Zhong ChuxiSource: Weibo
Wednesday, 20 November 2024
L'Oreal optimistic about 'boundless potential of Chinese market' #Entertainment #China #Beauty #Pretty
(China Daily) With a resolute stance on China's integral role in the company's future, L'Oreal believes that "the next China is China" and "Investing in China is investing in our future", a senior executive of the French multinational told China Daily in an exclusive interview during the recently concluded 7th China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
Vincent Boinay, president of L'Oreal North Asia and CEO of L'Oreal China, highlighted the country's robust economic fundamentals, pointing out that consumption remains the principal driver of China's economic growth.
This, combined with the nation's resilience and rapid technological advancements, have bolstered L'Oreal's confidence in the Chinese market, he said.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that consumption contributed to 82.5 percent of China's GDP growth in 2023. Retail sales, a key measurement of consumer spending, grew by 4.8 percent year-on-year in October, up from the 3.2 percent growth in September.
"I am optimistic about the boundless potential of the Chinese market in the medium to long term. My optimism roots in China's core strengths, remarkable resilience and amazing technological development, among other factors," said Boinay.
Chinese consumers, according to the executive, are at the forefront of global trends, particularly in the beauty sector. Their increasing sophistication and demand for high-quality, effective and trendy products have positioned China as a global influencer. L'Oreal's current reach of 100 million Chinese consumers is poised to expand, with ambitious plans to cater to more than 500 million, including seniors, men and Generation Z.
"L'Oreal strongly believes that 'the next China is China' and has never ceased investing in the country," he said, adding that L'Oreal's strategic focus in China is threefold: beauty tech and innovation, consumer experience enhancement, and sustainability.
The company has a research and innovation team of 400 researchers in Shanghai, and China has emerged as a key innovation hub for L'Oreal' s beauty tech, inspiring global initiatives. Leveraging technology and data to create highly personalized products and immersive and seamless interactions, the company aims to provide good experience for consumers, the executive said.
Sustainability, too, is a priority, with L'Oreal committing to using 100 percent renewable energy in its Chinese factories and warehouses.
Regarding the restructuring of global industrial and supply chains, L'Oreal's recent establishment of Suzhou Smart Fulfillment Center in Jiangsu province, its very first of the kind, exemplifies the company's faith in China's growing role, Boinay said.
This center, integrating cutting-edge automation technologies, advanced digitalization systems and firm sustainability commitments, reflects China's call for developing new quality productive forces and sets a benchmark for operational innovations in the beauty sector, he added.
Source: By Liu Zhihua | China Daily | Updated: 2024-11-19 10:19
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Film talent shines as awards honor galaxy of stars #Entertainment #China #Beauty #Pretty
(China Daily) The Best Feature Film Award went to Article 20, a film about how prosecutors and ordinary people come together to fight for social justice.Directed by Zhang Yimou, the film takes its name from Article 20 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, which focuses on the legal concept of justifiable self-defense. Drawing from such real-life cases, the film explores the conflicts and equilibrium among human nature, morality, and the law. It has captured broad interest, and won praises from the jury for showcasing the country's legal progress.
Lei Jiayin won the Best Actor Award for his role as a prosecutor in the movie. Back in September, also in Xiamen, Lei received the Outstanding Actor Award at the 34th Flying Apsaras Awards for his performance in the TV series A Lifelong Journey.
During his acceptance speech for the Best Actor Award, Lei thanked Lyu Xiaohe, a veteran in the film industry who won the Best Actor Award at the fifth Golden Rooster Awards for his role in the movie Wreaths at the Foot of the Mountain (1984).
"When I was 16 and didn't know what to do after graduating from junior high, Lyu asked me if I wanted to learn acting with him. That changed my life," Lei says with emotion.
"At 16, all I knew was that I was a kid who got noticed by a Golden Rooster Best Actor. That's when I first learned about the award."
Li Gengxi, 24, clinched Best Actress for her moving portrayal of Ling Min, a 25-year-old battling severe uremia in Viva La Vida.
The movie narrates the story of Ling and Lyu Tu, a young man suffering from a brain disease, played by 30-year-old actor Peng Yuchang, who was nominated for Best Actor.
The production unit and cast of the film Viva La Vida received a whopping eight nominations, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Scriptwriter, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, making it the most nominated film at this year's Golden Rooster Awards.
Chen Kaige secured the Best Director Award for The Volunteers: To the War, the first part of his war trilogy. This marks his second win in this category.
The Best Supporting Actor Award was bestowed upon Wang Xiao for his role in the crime thriller Endless Journey.
Wang says that the award is his first major accolade: "The trophy feels very heavy. This win is a great encouragement to me, my family and my working partners."
Endless Journey follows the story of a former group of police officers who reunite post-incarceration to pursue a murderer who had eluded their capture years earlier.
During an investigation involving a series of escalating crimes, an accidental death of a suspect lands the officers in prison.
Six years later, when the squad's leader Cheng Bing is released, he rallies his former squad members to track the killer across various hardships and locations.
Wang portrays Ma Zhenkun, a squad member who, driven by familial responsibilities, ultimately abandons the pursuit of the culprit.
Wang praises scriptwriter Zhang Ji for crafting a compelling and intricate story.
"When I got the script, each character vividly leapt off the page. Though I've often played police roles before, portraying an officer who becomes downtrodden after an accident is a rarity for me," Wang says.
"In this richly developed role, as an actor, I merely bring it to life. Audiences can see the subtle glimmers of ordinary individuals in the struggle for survival and justice," he adds.
The award for Best Documentary was presented to The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a film depicting the courageous rescue of British prisoners of war by Chinese fishermen during World War II.
In October 1942, while transporting approximately 1,800 British POWs from Hong Kong to Japan, the ship was torpedoed by a United States submarine off the coast of China's Zhejiang province.
The prisoners were trapped in the holds and left to perish, with some managing to escape only to be met with gunfire from Japanese soldiers.
Hearing of the tragedy from the shore, Chinese fishermen from nearby Dongji Island rushed to save 384 British soldiers. Tragically, the ship sank, resulting in the loss of 828 POWs who were either shot or drowned.
Inspired by this story, filmmaker Fang Li decided to locate the shipwreck in 2014 and search for survivors and the victim's relatives to share this heroic and heartbreaking story with a wider audience.
After the award ceremony in Xiamen, Fang recounted a touching anecdote from his travels across the United Kingdom while seeking out victims and their families.
In August 2019, when Fang visited the family of a British soldier named John Weaver who perished in the tragedy, Weaver's family members revealed a cherished black-and-white photo of a young Chinese woman from an old fabric wallet.
Inscribed on the back of the photo was the name "Goldy" handwritten by Weaver. Weaver's nieces, Lindsey Archer and Jean Cassidy, had known since childhood about their Chinese aunt named Goldy.
They were aware that she hailed from Xiamen and later moved to Hong Kong, where she met and fell in love with Weaver in 1940 and later married him. After the war, instead of accepting compensation, she left the money to Weaver's family in the UK.
Archer and Cassidy longed to find and meet their aunt.
Following the documentary's release, a search notice was issued in September based on the photo and marriage registration information bearing the name Leung Sou Kam, hoping to locate the woman.
Local media in Xiamen responded actively and within just two days, valuable information was provided. It was discovered that the woman's actual name was Liang Xiujin. In the Minnan (south of Fujian) dialect, "Kam" is equivalent to "Jin", which translates to "gold" in Chinese.
"That's why Weaver called her 'Goldy'! It suddenly made sense to me," Fang recalls.
Liang had passed away. Fang then arranged an online meeting on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a festival for Chinese family reunions, to introduce Liang's daughter to Weaver's nieces.
"War destroyed this love story. However, this film has connected the descendants of these two individuals," Fang says. "It's a heartwarming tale from Xiamen."
Chen Kaige (middle) claims Best Director for The Volunteers: To the War at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Saturday.
Zhang Yimou's Article 20 wins Best Feature Film. 
Wang Xiao clinches the Best Supporting Actor Award.
Fang Li accepts the Best Documentary Award for The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru.
Lei Jiayin displays the Best Actor Award.Source: By Xing Wen and Hu Meidong | China Daily | Updated: 2024-11-19 07:56
'Article 20,' 'Oppenheimer' win at Golden Rooster Awards #Entertainment #China #Beauty #Pretty
(china org) Winners of the 37th Golden Rooster Awards, one of China's most prestigious film honors, were announced Saturday at a star-studded ceremony in Xiamen, Fujian province. Zhang Yimou's "Article 20" and Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" claimed best feature film and best foreign language film, respectively.
The top award winner, "Article 20," a comedy-drama starring Lei Jiayin and Ma Li, draws inspiration from Chinese law regarding legitimate defense. The film depicts prosecutors and citizens working together to defend social fairness and justice, weaving together themes of law, emotion and drama.
The award marks Zhang Yimou's 11th Golden Rooster trophy. "This ceremony brings filmmakers together to reflect on our achievements and inspire us to create more meaningful films for the public," he said. Zhang credited the actors for the film's success, praising their talent, improvisation and natural performances in conveying human nature's complexity, along with the spontaneous humor achieved during filming.
The jury praised the actors' authentic performances in "Article 20." Lei Jiayin earned the best actor award for his role, while Ma Li received a best actress nomination.
Renowned filmmaker Chen Kaige won the best director and special jury prize for "The Volunteers: To the War," the first installment of a war trilogy about the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53). The award marks Chen's third Golden Rooster directing trophy.
In his acceptance speech, Chen thanked his chief producer and wife, Chen Hong. "A female producer leading the team has completed such a heavy responsibility, highlighting the power of women," he said. He expressed gratitude to the cast and crew for their three-year commitment to the project. "All glory and honor belong to the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers; we made this film to ensure they will not be forgotten."
Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning epic "Oppenheimer" won best foreign language film in a competitive field that included "Dune: Part Two," "Mothers' Instinct," "Kim's Video," and Russia's "The Challenge," the first film shot in space.
A Universal Pictures representative accepted the award for Nolan, noting the significance of recognition from a major film market of 1.4 billion people. "This movie is of great significance to our era. It not only brings a sensory shock to everyone on the screen but also has a profound impact on the soul. It reflects on civilization and scientific ethics, embodying the social responsibility of cinema and enhancing our social awareness," she said.
Li Gengxi, 24, unexpectedly won best actress over veteran Ma Li for her performance in "Viva La Vida," a heartbreaking story about two young lovers suffering from fatal diseases. The film's director, Han Yan, also claimed the best screenwriter award.
A total of 251 films competed for 21 Golden Rooster Award categories. "Viva La Vida" led the nominations with eight nods, followed by "Article 20" and "The Volunteers: To the War" with seven nominations each.
"I saw the nominations as the highlight of my life but never expected to win," Han said, expressing gratitude to the real-life inspirations behind his film, the actors and his family. "Thank you to the audience who loves and supports Chinese cinema; you are our sun. Thank you all, and please stay with us."
"Viva La Vida" is the final installment of director Han Yan's loosely connected "Life" trilogy, which also includes "Go Away! Mr. Tumor" and "A Little Red Flower." While the three films are not linked by story, they share a common meditation on life and death.
"Today is my 41st birthday, but it has another special meaning," Han said. "A decade ago, 'Go Away! Mr. Tumor' began my cinematic exploration of life's theme and its inspiration, comic book artist Xiong Dun, who died on this same day in 2012. I dedicate this award to her in heaven."
The best documentary award went to veteran producer and first-time director Fang Li for "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru." The documentary chronicles the heroic rescue of British prisoners of war by Chinese fishermen in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, after a Japanese cargo ship carrying the POWs was torpedoed by a U.S. submarine during World War II.
"I am deeply moved that the Golden Rooster Awards jury recognized and supported this film, which tells a global story from a unique perspective," Fang said. "It provides an opportunity for audiences worldwide to see this story that was buried for 82 years. With your support, our voice will grow louder and gradually be heard by the world."
Other notable winners included "Pegasus 2," which earned awards for best recording and best art direction. "Endless Journey" received awards for best music and best supporting actor (Wang Xiao). Liu Dan won best supporting actress for "Gone with the Boat." "One and Only" claimed best cinematography, "No More Bets" took best editing, and the Sino-Spanish co-production "Dragon Keeper" won best animated feature.
Several specialty awards were presented, including best mid-and-small budget film for "Another Day of Hope," best opera film for "Madam Liang Hongyu," best children's film for "Football on the Roof" and best directorial debut for Zhang Yudi's "The Midsummer's Voice."
Legendary screenwriter Xu Guangyao, 99, and filmmaker Xie Fei, 82, received lifetime achievement awards from the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, which has sponsored the Golden Rooster Awards with the China Film Association since 1981.
The 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival ran in Xiamen from Nov. 13-16, featuring forums, a film market and film screenings. Xiamen has hosted the festival since 2019.
Chen Kaige accepts the best director award for "The Volunteers: To the War" at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 16, 2024.
Chen Kaige accepts the best director award for "The Volunteers: To the War" at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 16, 2024.
A Universal Pictures representative accepts the best foreign language film award for "Oppenheimer" at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 16, 2024.
Han Yan accepts the best screenwriter award for "Viva La Vida" at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 16, 2024. 
Fang Li accepts the best documentary award for "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 16, 2024.
Stars gather for a group photo at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 16, 2024. 
Screenwriter Xu Guangyao (in absentia) and filmmaker Xie Fei receive lifetime achievement awards at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 16, 2024.
"A Tapestry of a Legendary Land" musical dancers perform on stage during the 37th Golden Rooster Awards ceremony in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 16, 2024.
"A Tapestry of a Legendary Land" musical dancers perform on stage during the 37th Golden Rooster Awards ceremony in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 16, 2024.Source: China.org.cn by Zhang Rui, November 18, 2024
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