At the end of September, it was announced that three Chinese-language movies had been qualified to compete for a nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category in next year's Academy Awards.
  
The three movies are Zhang Yimou's House of Flying Daggers, Johnny To's Running on Karma and Sylvia Chang's 20:30:40, which represent the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan respectively.
   
The news undoubtedly aroused speculation on which film was most likely to become an Oscar finalist.
   
The three directors have all received wide acclaim, but Zhang Yimou is without doubt the director with the most international fame.
   
A frequent guest of the Academy Awards ceremony, he has already been to the glittering Kodak Theater three times before with Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern and Hero, but unfortunately he left empty-handed each time.
   
House of Flying Daggers is his fourth attempt. His longtime partner and investor of the movie Zhang Weiping is confident.
   
"No one in China can parallel Zhang Yimou in terms of movie success. He is the flagship of China's movie industry. And his influence in the international market gives us much assurance," Zhang Weiping said Tuesday.
   
It was the first time Zhang Weiping has commented on the Oscar nomination news. As to Zhang Yimou's previous Oscar failures, Zhang Weiping said that Flying Daggers was a more mature production, which of course implied more winning possibilities. "It delivers a unique style which viewers can't obtain from Hollywood productions," he said.
   
Zhang Weiping also admitted the competitiveness of other countries' submissions: "They are powerful."
   
He also claimed that Asian movies and European and American movies were not treated equally: "We are not standing on the same starting line. European and American movies can gain awards with half the effort we've made. So failures don't always mean that we are not good enough."
   
Running on Karma director Johnny To said it was still too early to conclude which film is better. "It's hard to say," To said Monday. "I've watched the other two movies. I think they are both great. But I think it's a little bit difficult for me to judge which one is better.
   
"Sometimes we need luck. When luck is on your side, you can win. But it doesn't mean the loser is not as good as you. Sometimes we overestimate ourselves. We think we have made enough effort, but others may be more hard-working than us."
   
As the only female director, Sylvia Chang used to be an award-winning actress, which enabled her to be more experienced in directing sensitive women-related movies like 20:30:40, Chang's first attempt at an Oscar.
   
She was not available for comment, but actor Andy Lau is clear about what he thinks of her: "Chang is the director I most want to cooperate with. I hope someday I will have the opportunity to be cast in 40:50:60."
   
Andy Lau played the leading role in both House of Flying Daggers and Running on Karma. "I will attend the Oscars ceremony if either ends up as one of the five finalists," Lau said.
   
Apart from the three potential nominees, a campaign is being conducted in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou.
   
Tens of thousands of people signed their names in a petition, trying to persuade the Oscar jury to accept Keke Xili as a nominee in the foreign-language film category. "Keke Xili is the most qualified movie to represent China at the Academy Awards," they said in the petition.
   
Spotlighting the tough but persistent lifestyle of Tibetan antelope protectors, Keke Xili, directed by Lu Chuan, is mixed with a strong documentary style and has been warmly received by audiences.
   
Will the organizing committee of the Oscars approve the petition, movie insiders said that the possibility was very slim considering the rigid traditions of the Oscars.
   
The final nomination will be announced January 25 next year. The ceremony is on February 27.

(Shenzhen Daily October 15, 2004))