Innovative filmmaking needed: Golden Goblet Awards judge

Veteran Chinese actress Zhao Tao joining a "Women in Motion" forum, June 17, 2019 at the Shanghai International Film Festival. [Photo provided to China Plus]

"Filmmakers should make films which echo the same sentiments from them, as well as other people. This is the foundation for telling a good story via films," said Zhao Tao, the only female member of the 2019 Golden Goblet Awards jury.

She has made the statement ahead of the Golden Goblet awards being handed out at the Shanghai International Film Festival on Sunday, June 23, 2019. This year's Best Feature Film award went to Iranian movie "Castle of Dreams."

Among three Chinese films up for this year's Golden Goblet Awards, director Yang Lina's "Spring Tide" won Best Photography, thanks to the efforts by American cinematographer Jake Pollock.

Zhao Tao, making suggestions to Chinese filmmakers, has advised them to use modern, innovative cinema language, while and exploring new approaches and styles in filmmaking. "This way, Chinese movies will become more attractive, to not only domestic, but also international moviegoers," added Zhao.

The veteran actress spoke with Variety at the ongoing Shanghai International Film Festival about her years acting, as well as the change of women's roles in the Chinese film industry.

"In China, age is a hurdle for female actors. The roles available for a forty-year-old actress are usually a mother or mother-in-law... But I think women over forty have rich life experiences, which allows them to fully interpret more complex roles from a deeper and more subtle perspective," said Zhao.

Zhao Tao has earned international fame for her award-winning roles in the films by her husband, Chinese director Jia Zhangke, including "Ash is Purest White," "A Touch of Sin" and "Still Life."