Chinese director and screenwriter Wang Xiaoshuai has picked up his second Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, winning the best screenplay prize for In Love We Trust on February 16, 2008.
Wang's film had been competing for the top Golden Bear award at the 58th Berlinale, but that went to Brazilian director Jose Padilha's Tropa de Elite (The Elite Squad), a story of police corruption and gang violence in the Brazilian slums.
In Love We Trust lead actress Liu Weiwei missed out on the best actress prize, which was picked up by Sally Hawkins for her performance in Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-lucky.
Wang thanked the jury saying the award would help "all of us who try to make independent film in China."
In Love We Trust, a story of love, loyalty, and responsibility among China's new middle class, tells how a middle-aged divorced couple, both remarried, try to save their young daughter, who suffers from leukemia, by having another child to act as a bone marrow donor.
It was the only film from the Chinese mainland competing this year in Berlin, where last year's top Golden Bear award was won by the Chinese film, Tuya's Marriage.
Wang, who is better known outside China, won the Grand Jury Silver Bear Award at the 2001 Berlin Film Festival for his film, Beijing Bicycle. He won the Special Jury Prize for Shanghai Dreams at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.
In Love We Trust is expected to open in Chinese cinemas in the spring, but the exact date has yet to be set.
Wang said he would value the response and comments of Chinese audiences and hoped they would like the film.
Shanghai Dreams made more than five million yuan (685,000 U.S. dollars) at the box office China in 2005, which was considered reasonably successful for a small-budget independent movie.
Director Jose Padilha poses with his Golden Bear award during the awards ceremony at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008. Padilha won the award for the Best Film Tropa de Elite.
Actress Sally Hawkins (L-R), director Jose Padilha and producer Marcos Prado pose with their Bear awards during the awards ceremony at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008.
Italian Director Francesco Rosi poses with the trophy for the "Honorary Golden Bear" at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 14, 2008. Rosi was awarded for his lifetime achievement among the 58th Berlinale, one of the world's most prestigious film festivals, running from February 7 to 17 in the German capital.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson poses with the Silver Bear award for Best Director during the awarding ceremony at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008. Anderson was awarded for the movie There Will Be Blood. He also holds the Silver Bear award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution that was given to musician Jonny Greenwood.
Director Errol Morris poses with his Silver Bear, the Jury Grand Prix, during the awarding ceremony at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008. Morris was awarded for his movie Standard Operation Procedure.
Actor Reza Najie poses with the Silver Bear trophy for Best Actor during the awarding ceremony at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008. Najie was awarded for his performance in the film The Song of Sparrows by Mijid Majidi.
Actress Sally Hawkins poses with the Silver Bear for Best Actress during the awarding ceremony at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008. Hawkins was awarded for her performance in the film Happy-go-lucky directed by Mike Leigh.
Director Fernando Eimbcke poses with the 'Alfred-Bauer-Preis' trophy during the news conference after the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008. Eimbcke was awarded for his film Lake Tahoe.
Producer Keiko Araki (R) and director Kumasaka Izuru pose with their Best First Feature Award during the news conference after the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008. Araki and Izuru were awarded for their movie Asyl - Park and Love Hotel.
Award winners director Errol Morris (L-R), actress Sally Hawkins, director Jose Padilha, director Wang Xiaoshui, Actor Reza Najiepose and Director Paul Thomas Anderson pose with their Silver and Golden Bear at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008.
(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2008)
