After an in-depth discussion and voting, Odyssey 2023’s Jury Panel selected The Jury’s Special Prize and three Special Mentions this year. Chih-Chieh YU’s thriller Contained from Taiwan is the official Jury’s Special Prize of Odyssey 2023. Hong Ning’s The New World: The Variation of Stay-Home Activities, Ran Li’s Till Love Do Us Part and Helai Lu’s Everything are the Special Mentions this year.
Jury’s Special Prize: Contained
Contained received the highest vote in the first round of judging, earning the honour of The Jury’s Special Prize. This film explores the attitude of humans in dealing with the unknown and fear, in one single shot. The director’s audacious style resonates with the Jury Panel. The film’s original concept also aligns with the festival theme this year: “Global Sustainability”. A journey to achieve universal values is always filled with challenges.
Nevertheless, we aspire to embrace boldness and the spirit of Avant-garde.
This film was screened offline in partnership with FACT Picturehouse Liverpool on 2 June 2023.
Special Mention: The New World: The Variation of Stay-Home Activities
The New World: The Variation of Stay-Home Activities has also attracted significant attention from the jurors, particularly its intriguing storytelling and the director’s distinct animation style. This short film celebrates the creative endeavours of ordinary people during the pandemic, exuding a sense of optimism and hope which echoes with Odyssey’s mission.
This film was screened offline in partnership with Glasgow Film Theatre on 8 June 2023.
Special Mention: Till Love Do Us Part
The well-established filming technique employed throughout Till Love Do Us Part left a lasting impression on most of the jurors. The story beautifully portrays the conflict between modern romance and traditional customs. The performance by the cast is equally outstanding.
This film was screened offline in partnership with Royal Cinema St Ives on 23 June 2023.
Special Mention: Everything
Everything is a remarkable example of seamlessly integrating a universal idea into an engaging story without coming across as overly didactic. Director Helai Lu aspires to transcend boundaries and ignite boundless imagination, freeing the narrative from any constraints within this film.
This film was screened offline in partnership with FACT Picturehouse Liverpool on 2 June 2023.
Odyssey 2023 Jury Panel
Emily Austin-Howell, Chinese studies graduate
Giulia D’Aquila, PhD candidate in Chinese studies
Daniel Montesinos-Donaghy, film critic
Szymon Grochal, producer, filmmaker
Marta Harwood, research specialist
Roger King, producer, actor
Tony Paley, film critic
Andrietta Simbi, journalist
Karma Wangdi, Operations Director, tve
Riley Wong, Lead Curator of Odyssey 2023
Ana Zraykat, producer, actress
Hiu Man Chan, Founder & Director of UK-China Film Collab
Thank you once again to all the jurors who participated in this year’s panel and to all the submissions received. This year, Odyssey 2023 has successfully showcased the fresh energy of young filmmakers from Greater China and around the world, responding to the ongoing universal discussion of “global sustainability”.
Presented by UK-China Film Collab as its major annual event, Odyssey is eager to continue exploring and uncovering the potential of film diplomacy in the future.
