Dying to Survive wins three titles at Directors' Guild Awards

Some of China's most influential film celebrities gathered on Friday in Beijing to witness the announcement of the winners of this year's China Film Directors' Guild Awards.

The film 'Dying to Survive' was the biggest winner on the night, walking away with three awards.

Director Wen Muye received the Young Director of the Year award.

Chinese director Wen Muye received the Young Director of the Year award at the annual China Film Directors' Guild Awards ceremony on Friday afternoon, April 26, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

"The award is the only award in China given to a film director by other directors. It means recognition from my fellow colleagues, so I treasure this award very much."

'Dying to Survive' also won the Actor of the Year award and Film of the Year award.

The judging panel for the awards praised the film's focus on real-life social issues and the actors' vivid portrayal of them on screen. "Meanwhile its box office success inspires China's film industry to continue to produce films that touch upon social facts," said the panel.

Jia Zhangke won the Director of the Year award at the annual China Film Directors' Guild Awards ceremony on Friday afternoon, April 26, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

In addition, Jia Zhangke won the Director of the Year award for "Ash Is Purest White". Ma Yili won the Actress of the Year award for her role in "Lost, Found".

Hong Kong veteran director Felix Chong also won the 'Hong Kong and Taiwan Director of the Year' award for Project Gutenberg, which garnered more than one-billion yuan or 148-million US dollars in box offices, making it the champion in Chinese box office last October.

Most industry insiders think highly of the awards, saying they are the most influential film awards because of the fact that they value the opinions of directors on filmmaking and also the selection of films.

Ma Yili won the Actress of the Year award for her role in "Lost, Found" at the annual China Film Directors' Guild Awards ceremony on Friday afternoon, April 26, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

However, when it was nicknamed 'China's Oscars', the China Film Directors' Guild Awards did not have as much sway in the eyes of many.

Earlier, Li Shaohong, well-known director and the chairperson of China Film Directors' Guild said they are trying to include documentary films and animated films into the awards this year, so as to increase the number of categories.