Golden Rooster film festival opens in Xiamen

The festival's opening film is The Road Not Taken, directed by Peter Chan and starring Zhou Xun. The film marks the pair's third collaboration. Zhou said she hoped it would give audiences the strength to live well by encouraging them to return to a simpler, more authentic way of life. Chan revealed that the title was inspired by the poem of the same name by American poet Robert Frost.

The winners of the 39th Golden Rooster Awards will be announced at the Strait Grand Theater on Nov 10. A total of 20 awards will be presented: seven in film categories, 12 recognizing individual achievements in filmmaking, and one Special Jury Award. Dead to Rights and Blades of the Guardians, each with seven nominations, are among the leading contenders.

The festival will also screen 84 outstanding films — including 44 Chinese-language titles and 40 international productions — at more than 20 cinemas across six districts of Xiamen until Nov 29.