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| Bai Baihe Clarifies Her Stance Amid Tokyo Film Festival Controversy |
Chinese actress Bai Baihe has issued a detailed statement following widespread speculation about her cryptic post regarding the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) awards.
The controversy emerged after her co-star Wang Chuanjun won Best Actor for their film Mother Tongue, while Bai did not receive the Best Actress accolade.
Her earlier message on social media—“so that’s how things work, huh?”—had led to rampant speculation about tension between the co-stars.
As online discussions escalated, Bai Baihe, 41, decided to publicly clarify her intent and address deeper issues behind the scenes.
Addressing the Award Fallout
In a long-form post, Bai Baihe stressed that every award earned by her team should be viewed as a collective achievement.
She denied harbouring resentment toward Wang Chuanjun and clarified that her frustrations were directed at the film’s production management.
According to Bai Baihe, the film’s producer Deng Jin informed her on 3 November that she could return to China as there would be “no awards to collect.”
However, she later discovered that Mother Tongue went on to win both Best Actor (Wang Chuanjun) and Best Director (Zhang Lu) at the festival.
Bai claimed she had been deliberately excluded from related events and alleged that both Deng and Zhang had shown a pattern of unprofessional behaviour.
She also referenced her previous experience with Zhang Lu’s film Gloaming in Luomu, where she had paid her own travel expenses to attend the Busan Film Festival, only to nearly miss the premiere due to what she described as logistical negligence by the production team.
Bai Baihe’s Broader Criticism of Industry Practices
In her statement, Bai Baihe expressed disappointment over what she called “manipulative practices” within the production, stating that she had agreed to the projects out of trust after Zhang Lu claimed hardship and last-minute cast withdrawals.
Bai wrote that in hindsight, “some people and decisions simply weren’t worth the trust given.”
While Bai clarified her remarks were not aimed at Wang Chuanjun, her initial post unintentionally drew criticism toward him.
Some netizens accused her of downplaying his achievement, while others applauded her candour for addressing the situation head-on.
Director Zhang Lu and producer Deng Jin have yet to respond to Bai’s allegations.
Reactions from the Industry and Netizens
The incident sparked broader debate among film enthusiasts about award fairness and industry transparency.
Commentators noted that this year’s TIFF jury—operating under a small-panel evaluation system—had faced scrutiny for perceived internal politics.
Festival jury member Wen Yan later commented that Bai Baihe’s performance in Mother Tongue was “a fresh and moving portrayal,” but emphasised that the Best Actress race was particularly competitive.
She added that the decision to honour Wang Chuanjun was based solely on artistic merit rather than screen time, noting, “We award the best performance, not the longest one.”
Despite reassurances, online chatter about alleged “behind-the-scenes manoeuvring” persisted, reflecting what some Chinese netizens call the “award-lobbying mindset” — the idea that domestic jurors at international festivals must “fight for” Chinese films to win.
The Bai Baihe controversy has reignited discussion about the complex relationship between Chinese filmmakers and international recognition.
For many audiences, the incident highlights a conflicting attitude: a desire for global validation tempered by scepticism toward foreign-led juries.
Analysts suggest that Bai Baihe’s confrontation has inadvertently shifted the focus from individual awards to the broader health of the industry itself. Her remarks have encouraged reflection on professional integrity, communication, and the need for fair collaboration between artists and production teams.
As Bai Baihe concluded in her post, “The real value of a film lies not just in who wins the trophy, but in how we choose to respect each other through the process.”
Source: Sina/Weibo