Awards
The movie “The Birth of New China” (Kaiguo Dadian 开国大典) was well received by the Chinese press and was also awarded with the highest official awards:
Golden Rooster Award (Jinji jiang 金鸡奖)
The Golden Rooster Award used to be handed out once a year, but since 2005 it is awarded biannually. The award was first assigned
in 1981, the year of the rooster, from which it drew its name. Famous film producers and film critics who are part of the “China Film
Association” (Zhongguo dianyingjia xiehui, 中国电影家协会)
are responsible for picking the winners. It is basically an award given by professionals to honour other professionals.
In 1990, shortly after being launched, “The Birth of New China” received the “Golden Rooster Award” for the best drama, the best direction, and best script. Actor Sun Feihu (in the role of Jiang Jieshi) received the award for best supporting actor, while Wu Fanghai (吴方海) received the award for film editing.
Hundred Flowers Award (Baihua jiang 百花奖)
The Hundred Flowers Award is an important award that was first handed out in 1962 but then was stopped until 1980. “Popular Cinema”
(Dazhong dianying 大众电影), an important movie magazine that is the
voice of the “China Film Association”, picks the award’s winners on the basis of votes from the public.
Whereas the “Golden Rooster Award” is identified as a “specialists’ award”, the “Hundred Flowers Award” is often called the “award of the masses”.
In 1990, “The Birth of New China” received this award for best drama. Actor Sun Feihu (in the role of Jiang Jieshi) won “best supporting actor”, while Gu Yue (in the role of Mao Zedong) won “best actor”.
The Stele Award (Huabiao jiang - 华表奖)
The Stele Award is the most prestigious government award in Chinese cinema. It used to be handed out by the Ministry of Culture
and now is given by the “State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television” (SARFT)
(Guojia guangbo dianying dianshibu 国家广播电影电视部).
The award was started in 1957
but then was stopped until 1979. Since it is the highest official award, it is only given to movies and film makers in line with party politics.
The movie “The Birth of New China” won the “Stele award” in 1989/1990 for “best drama”. This means it was approved and especially cherished by the party. At the award ceremony, high political and military officials were present, as well as former president Jiang Zemin. He personally congratulated director Li Qiankuan for making the film.
The movie was not only popular in China but also in Hong Kong, where it was shown for several months. Even the Hong Kong movie critics reviewed it positively. Because of its Hong Kong success, the film received the “Asian Ten Big Movies Award” (Yazhou shi da mingpianjiang 亚洲十大名片奖), and was shown at the 62th Moscow Film Festival.
| Back to background | back to top |