"And the award for Best Short Film goes to...
Gaulish film 'Crimson Petals'!"
As juror Blake's voice fell, the cameras panned to the actors, director, and crew of Gaulish film 'Crimson Petals'.
Lead actor Kuwait, lead actress Lina, and director Ryan all looked visibly shocked and surprised.
Meanwhile, the audience erupted in a wave of gasps and exclamations.
"What? Best Short Film is 'Crimson Petals'? I thought the short films from Long Country were much more brilliant!"
"Unbelievable, the Best Short Film is Gaulish 'Crimson Petals'. Could the jury be too romantic? Weren't the short films from Long Country and Pretty Country more compelling than the Gaulish one?"
"I feel like this is targeted. From my perspective, Long Country's short film should have been the Best Short Film. I can't understand how these nine judges gave it to 'Crimson Petals'."
The stars, directors, and screenwriters in the audience were buzzing with discussion about the Best Short Film award.
In their eyes, the short films from Long Country and Pretty Country were both superior to the Gaulish entry.
Yet, the award went to Gaul!
In the global live stream, a barrage of shocked and questioning comments scrolled across the screen.
【Pretty Country and Long Country's short films were clearly more brilliant, why did Gaul get it? What are these nine judges thinking? We, netizens from White Elephant Country, want to ask the nine judges: Are you blind?】
【We second the sentiment of White Elephant Country netizens. Buralia's short films are as brilliant as ever, and Long Country's short film this time is truly impressive. Their skill has surpassed their previous level. Anyone would have been content if the award went to Long Country, but it went to Gaul, and netizens from Cherry Blossom Country cannot comprehend why!】
【Netizens from Little Stick Country concur, Gaulish 'Crimson Petals' truly does not deserve this award. Although I somewhat dislike Long Country, their short film 'Black and White Edge' truly stunned me. The editor's ideas were avant-garde and novel. Even if the award went to Long Country, I would have had no objections.】
【We netizens from Big Mao Country agree!】
【Netizens from Ox Ox Country also agree with the netizens from Little Stick Country's assessment!】
【We from Pretty Country admit that Long Country's short film was indeed brilliant. The scene of good versus evil at the beginning was quite impactful. The award should have gone to Long Country!】
【Please, everyone, calm down. Isn't our Gaulish short film romantic? Doesn't it possess high artistic value? What's there to discuss? It's a well-deserved win!】
【Get lost, Gaulish chicken! Open your eyes and see where public opinion lies! Everyone acknowledges that our Long Country's short film is more brilliant and more deserving of an award! How can you be so shameless!】
In the global live stream, netizens from various countries voiced their doubts and dissatisfaction, launching a barrage of criticism at the netizens from Gaul.
Inside Long Country!
Millions of viewers, both online and watching on television, were stunned by Gaul's win.
Long Country's short film was demonstrably more innovative and brilliant, yet the predominantly romantic Gaulish film took home the prize.
Were the judges blind?
Millions of people expressed their strong dissatisfaction with Gaul's win, both privately and online.
Gao Fei, also watching the live stream, frowned as he saw Gaul awarded the prize.
He had not expected Gaul to be the winner either!
At the Jia University Film Festival venue.
Kuwait, the lead actor of 'Crimson Petals', stepped onto the stage to accept the trophy and began his acceptance speech.
Even he found it hard to believe that the film had won, his voice trembling and laced with uncertainty as he spoke.
After Kuwait left the stage, juror Blake stepped up to explain the jury's decision.
He cleared his throat and addressed the audience and cameras: "I understand that many of you are confused, surprised, and perhaps even displeased with 'Crimson Petals' winning the award.
Firstly, regarding 'The Great Battle of Burning Fire,' the short film remains unchanged, much like any other short film from Buralia.
As for 'Black and White Edge,' I must admit that Long Country's filmmaking has indeed made significant progress. Our jury was, in fact, taken aback the moment we saw it.
However, regrettably, while Long Country's short film has a memorable opening, its subsequent content is overly complex."
"Therefore, after deliberation by all members of the jury, we have decided to award the Best Short Film to Gaulish 'Crimson Petals'.
From both commercial and artistic perspectives, 'Crimson Petals' is more deserving of this award."
With that, Blake handed the microphone to an attendant and exited the stage, offering no further explanation.
The hundred guests in the audience, the global viewers watching the live stream, and the hundreds of millions of viewers in Long Country.
After carefully considering Blake's words, they found them somewhat forced, yet also possessing a sliver of logic.
Regardless, the award had already been given to Gaul, so everyone moved on to anticipate the next award.
The male host stepped onto the stage to introduce the next category.
Best Original Song.
"For this year's Film Festival, the nominees for Best Original Song are: 'Storm' from the theme song of Big Mao Country's 'Frontline Pursuit', and 'Hello, Duck' from the theme song of Pretty Country's Buralian film 'Duck's Police Career'.
'Flying Catkins' from Gaulish film 'Mr. Policeman', and 'Heart of Glory' from the theme song of Ox Ox Country's 'Police Department Towards Death'.
And 'Hero in the Darkness' from the theme song of Long Country's 'Black and White Edge'!"
Upon hearing the host announce the nominated countries and films, the entire venue gasped in unison.
In the global live stream, netizens from all over the world exclaimed in astonishment.
Within Long Country, hundreds of millions of netizens and viewers held their breath, their hearts pounding with intense anticipation.
This was because the nominees represented the films from the world's five major powers.
Now, with the film songs of these five major powers nominated for Best Original Song, it was akin to a global martial arts tournament.
Whoever won the award would be crowned the supreme master of global film theme songs.
The moment the nominations were announced, all the viewers' expressions grew tense, each cheering for their respective country's film theme song.
On the awards stage, the music videos of the nominated films were played in succession.
Big Mao Country's theme song, 'Storm', was a heavy metal piece, accompanied by an electrifying film music video. The music's overall momentum was grand, and the lyrics mostly consisted of interjections.
Pretty Country's theme song, 'Hello, Duck', was performed by Mr. Ma, a renowned musician from Pretty Country, and naturally, the music belonged to their country's West Coast style. The film's music video also showcased their national characteristics: car chases, gunfights, and explosive scenes... The entire song was catchy for those familiar with foreign languages. The lyrics rhymed, the melody was smooth, and when combined with electronic beats, it was electrifying and explosive in style!
Gaulish film theme song, 'Flying Catkins', featured a music video that remained primarily romantic. The lyrics and melody were incredibly gentle, and performed by a popular singer from their country, it was deeply emotive and tender.
Ox Ox Country's theme song, 'Heart of Glory', had a music video that was quite standard. In terms of music, it incorporated the heavy metal style of Big Mao Country, the East Coast music style of Pretty Country, the romantic lyrics of Gaul, and was accompanied by domestic piano and violin arrangements. The entire song, except for not borrowing from Long Country, had assimilated musical characteristics from the other three major powers.
Long Country's film theme song, 'Hero in the Darkness'.
The moment the music began, coupled with the electrifying film music video depicting police pursuing criminals, it immediately captivated the entire audience once more. The musical style was not borrowed, did not belong to any specific country, nor was it typical popular music or rock from within Long Country. It was an electronic pop and indie pop style, an avant-garde musical genre. The entire song, along with the high-octane film music video, electrified the awards ceremony and set the global live stream ablaze, prompting the viewers in Long Country, late into the night, to spontaneously sing along to the music.