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Taipei Film Awards: 'Sunshine Girls Choir' Nominated 4 Times, Goes Home Empty-Handed

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • The film "Sunshine Girls Choir" received zero awards despite four nominations at the 28th Taipei Film Awards.
  • The film's song "Happiness in Singing" was praised by judges but lost to a song more tightly integrated with the film's ending.
  • Competition was fierce for Best Supporting Actress, with nominees from "Sunshine Girls Choir" and "Girl" ultimately losing to the winner from "The Sea Is Like a Sea."

Despite a strong box office performance in Taiwan, the film "Sunshine Girls Choir" faced a surprising setback at the 28th Taipei Film Awards, failing to secure any wins despite four nominations. The film's cast and crew, including nominees for Best Supporting Actress and Best New Performer, along with the song "Happiness in Singing" performed by A-Lin, all went home empty-handed.

The song 'Da Meng' was ultimately chosen because its integration with the ending of the film was tighter, described as providing a 'very beautiful coda' for the entire movie.

— Li Ya-meiExplaining the reason for the winning song's selection over "Happiness in Singing."

Festival director Li Ya-mei shed light on the judging process, explaining that while the song "Happiness in Singing" was recognized for its mature composition and emotional impact, it ultimately lost to "Da Meng." The winning song was lauded for its seamless integration with the film's narrative, providing a "beautiful coda" to the story, according to judges.

The competition for Best Supporting Actress was particularly intense. Judges focused on Sun Shu-mei from "Sunshine Girls Choir," Lin Pin-tong from "Girl," and the eventual winner, Chen Xue-zhen from "The Sea Is Like a Sea." While Sun Shu-mei was highly praised for her natural and uninhibited performance, even being unrecognizable to some judges, she did not advance to the final discussion round.

The selection for Best Original Film Song is not just about whether the song is good to listen to, but also about how it fits the film's theme and drives the characters and plot.

— Huang Jian-yeThe head of the jury explaining the criteria for selecting the best original film song.

Lin Pin-tong's performance in "Girl" was noted for her precise portrayal of a young girl's emotions, with judges stating the film might have felt "desperate" without her energy. However, Chen Xue-zhen ultimately won for her convincing portrayal of a Malaysian Chinese character in "The Sea Is Like a Sea." Her performance, particularly her nuanced crying scenes, deeply impressed the judges, highlighting her dedication to the role.

If she were absent, the entire movie might have seemed 'very desperate,' indicating the crucial energy she injected into the work.

— JudgesDescribing the importance of Lin Pin-tong's performance in the film "Girl."
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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