In May this year, director Wanma Tseden passed away suddenly, shocking the film industry. As the most famous Tibetan filmmaker in my country, Wanma Tseden uses Tibetan life as a fulcrum to depict the vivid characters struggling in the vast world and wandering in the gap between the past and the present, and has led the "new wave of Tibetan-language films" to become a contemporary An important new force in Chinese films. Wanma Tseden was in the prime of his creative life, and when he passed away, he still had many works waiting to be seen by the audience.

Director Wanma Tseden

On September 6, local time in Italy, the 8th Tibetan-language film "Snow Leopard" directed by Wanma Tseden held its world premiere at the Lido Cinema Palace in Venice. Jiu Mei Chengli, the son of director Pema Tseden and the executive director of the movie "Snow Leopard", came to the scene with the leading actors Kimba, Xiong Ziqi, Tsai Ding Tashi, as well as the director of photography Matthias Delvaux, the special effects director Zhan Hansu and other crew members, and met with from More than a thousand audiences from all over the world met, and the applause lasted for a long time after the film was screened.

The creative staff of "Snow Leopard" attended the world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.

"Snow Leopard" is director Wanma Tseden's fourth film shortlisted for the Venice International Film Festival after "Tarot", "Kill a Sheep" and "Balloon". This work took three years to create, and it contains director Wanma Caidan's thinking on deeper themes such as people and society, culture and beliefs.

The film uses the story of the globally endangered animal snow leopard killing nine goats belonging to a herdsman. It explores different people's views and motivations on the snow leopard killing the goats. Everyone has their own opinions on whether to release the snow leopard trapped in the sheep pen. My own choice and persistence, seemingly reasonable demands, have become the fuse of intensifying conflicts among multiple parties.

"Snow Leopard" poster

This film was shot in the Sanjiangyuan National Wetland Park in Maduo County, Qinghai Province. The Tibetan name for the filming location is "Donggezona Lake", which means a lake surrounded by a thousand mountains. The scenery is magnificent, and this national wetland The park is also the habitat of many endangered species such as the snow leopard.

In terms of subject matter, the film breaks through the focus and concern for the human condition in previous Wanma Tseden film works. It explores and elaborates on the interdependent compassionate relationship between "heaven, earth, man and beast" on the plateau in a simple and profound way, and combines people and The relationship between nature is incorporated into the entire film philosophy system, and the big question of whether the relationship between humans and animals is mutually harmful or mutually nurturing is raised in the complex ecological system of society, economy, nature, and self-belief. Difficulties and challenges make the film have higher ideological and artistic value.

"Snow Leopard" stills

At the premiere press conference, Kumi introduced the work to the world on behalf of his father. He talked about how Wanma Tseden, from "Quiet Mani Stone" to "Snow Leopard", has been telling about the culture and life of the Tibetan people, as well as the changes, penetration, and integration of modern civilization into their lives and ways of thinking. ""Snow Leopard" is a story about the present and the past. It expresses the eternal test of human nature in the alternation of time and is a symbol of compassion and spirituality. "Snow Leopard" is also a story in Wanma Tseden's film sequence. A new breakthrough, the audience can feel the hope of love from the cold-toned environment, as well as director Wanma Tseden's new understanding of life, the world and Tibetan culture."

Executive Director Kumi Seiree

Kimba, who has collaborated with director Wanma Tseden many times, expressed his special thanks to the director for trusting him and hoped that "Snow Leopard" will have a good response and be seen by more audiences. Xiong Ziqi, who was working with a director for the first time, said frankly that participating in "Snow Leopard" was the luckiest thing in his life. From it, he felt that the relationship between man, nature and animals is an important issue in life. Caitin Tashi also expressed his special thanks to director Wanma Caidan for leading him from an ordinary person who knew nothing to the world of movies. In his opinion, "Snow Leopard" expresses his love for nature and this love. How great it is.

From left: Xiong Ziqi, Jinba, Caiding Tashi, Jiumei Chenglie, Matthias Delph

In terms of audio-visual style, "Snow Leopard" still continues Wanma Tseden's unique aesthetics, such as dreamy and poetic expression techniques, color lenses and black and white images, seamlessly connecting reality and surreality. This is also the first large-scale use of high-level CG technology in Wanma Caidan's works. The film vividly presents China in detail, and even the world's first high-definition digital image of snow leopards, allowing the audience to immersively feel that the relationship between people and snow leopards is real. It seems illusory and distant, but it is within easy reach. reality.

"Snow Leopard" stills

After the world premiere. Professional media commented that the film showed the depth and beauty of Tibetan culture from a unique perspective and raised the relationship between man and nature to a new level.

After the screening, the audience expressed their high respect to the film art of director Wanma Caidan. Senior fans of director Wanma Tseden said that his works not only allow us to appreciate the artistic beauty of movies, but also allow us to think and explore the relationships and values between humans and nature, humans and society, and humans.

The film "Snow Leopard" is produced by Nan Ji, Zhou Hao, Wanma Tseden and Gong Yu, with Wang Lei as the producer, Cai Duo as the executive producer, starring Jin Ba, Xiong Ziqi, Cai Ding Tashi, and Wang Zhuocuo. Special appearances include Lobsang Choonpei, Genden Phuntsog, Genden, Dang Haoyu, Jiuxian Tairang, Gadou Tashi, Dechen Yangzong, Juqiong Khyentse, etc., who have worked with director Wanma Tseden Excellent actors who have collaborated many times also participate in the show.