The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival crowned Zhong Kaifeng's Atlantic Rhapsody as its top film at the Golden Goblet Awards ceremony on June 20 at the Shanghai Grand Theatre. The Chinese drama, set in Northeast China and starring Yin Fang, also won Best Cinematography for cinematographer Hao Jiayue.
The night's sharpest sweep came from Morocco. Yassine El Idrissi's social realist drama Halima won both Best Director and Best Actress, with Khadija Amari taking the acting prize in what Variety describes as her first lead role after years of character work. The double win marks Morocco's return to the SIFF main competition after a 27-year absence.
The Jury Grand Prix went to Nicolás Rincón Gille's Iluminada (Belgium). Best Actor honored Zhang Songwen for Secret in the Box, a Chinese-Hong Kong co-production. Best Screenplay recognized Reis Çelik for Night of Blindness (Turkey/Germany), set during Turkey's 1980 military coup and the second film in Çelik's planned Night Trilogy.
In the Asian New Talent section, Gong Yiwen's Her First Taste (China) won Best Film and Sompot Chidgasornpongse's 9 Temples to Heaven (Thailand) took Best Director and Best Actor. The festival received approximately 4,100 submissions from 125 countries and regions, a new record for the event.