The main awards of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival were announced on the evening of the 6th, with Chinese actress Xin Zhilei winning the Best Actress award for her outstanding performance in the film “The Sun Rises On Us All.”
“The Sun Rises On Us All” is directed by Cai Shangjun and stars Xin Zhilei alongside Zhang Songwen and Feng Shaofeng. The film tells the story of a former couple who reunite in a small southern city after many years, only to be swept up in fate and ultimately meet a tragic end. The film was shot in multiple cities across Guangdong Province, showcasing the unique Lingnan cultural landscape.
The Venice International Film Festival, founded in Italy in 1932, is known as one of the three major international film festivals in Europe, alongside the Cannes International Film Festival in France and the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany.
In her acceptance speech, Xin Zhilei said: “More than ten years ago when I first entered the industry, I made a boast, which could also be considered a dream. I said that one day I must stand on a world-class stage and become an international superstar. But at that time, I was laughed at by many people. But look, today I am finally standing here.”
She also said: “I want to say to all girls, as long as you have a dream, dare to think big and dare to act. Who knows, maybe one day it will come true, just like it did for me.”
According to public information, Xin Zhilei, originally named Xin Lei, was born in Hegang City, Heilongjiang Province in 1986. She graduated from the Central Academy of Drama and has appeared in a series of film and television works such as “The Swordsmen,” “Blossoms Shanghai,” “The Joy of Life,” and “Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace.”
In 2016, her film “The Boatman” was selected for the main competition section of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the only Chinese-language film in that year’s main competition. In 2023, she won the Lead Actress award at the 32nd Shanghai Magnolia Theatre Performance Art Award for her 120-minute one-woman show in “Initial Burden of Proof.”