Russian film awarded top prize in Shanghai film festival

A Russian film named The Major was awarded top prize at the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival which concluded late Sunday evening. The film, winning the Golden Goblet for best feature film, talks about how things went out of control when corrupt police officers tried to cover up a hit-and-run case for their colleague. The jury headed by Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper said in a statement that the film revealed a complicated Russian society, as well as great Russian art and story telling tradition. Its director, Yuri Bykov, won the awards for best director and outstanding artistic achievement at the festival. The Jury Grand Prix went to Sweden film Reliance, which was directed by William Olsson. The film also won the awards for best screenplay and best cinematography. Hong Kong actor Nick Cheung won the Golden Goblet for the best actor for he "created a man who lives at the bottom of the society but who has a strong character and magnetic personality" in the film Unbeatable. Ten-year-old Malaysian child star Crystal Lee became the youngest actress to have won the award for best actress in the festival's history. Some 1,665 films produced in 112 countries entered competition or had been screened at cinemas during the nine-day festival that ran from June 15 to 23. Founded in 1993, the Shanghai International Film Festival is one of China's top international film events.