Zhong Kaifeng’s Atlantic Rhapsody was named best film at Shanghai International Film Festival’s Golden Goblet Awards on Saturday (June 20).
The Chinese fantasy drama also picked up the best cinematography prize for the work of Hao Jiayue.
Scoll down for full list of winners
Director Zhong makes his feature debut with the story of a supermarket clerk who starts to experience strange occurrences after accidentally boiling the store’s shark alive. Compelled by forces beyond his understanding, he returns to his hometown Shenyang after two decades where everything converges into an echo of history, memory, fantasy and reality.
Rediance landed sales rights to the film, which received its world premiere in Shanghai.
A further two-time winner in the main competition was Moroccan social realist drama Halima, which scooped best director for Yassine El Idrissi and best actress for Khadija Amari.
In the Asian New Talent section, best film went to Chinese drama Her First Taste, the feature directorial debut of Gong, which follows a millennial girl who forms a bittersweet bond with a boy. Ma Fufu also picked up best actress for her lead performance in the film.
Thailand’s Sompot Chidgasornpongse was named best director in the Asian New Talent competition for 9 Temples To Heaven while Sompop Songkampol picked up best actor for his role in the film, which premiered in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes last month.
Best animation film went to Lucy Lost by France’s Olivier Clert, which premiered in Special Screenings at Cannes and is in competition at Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 21-27). It recently secured key territory sales through Goodfellas Animation.
Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai presided over the jury of Shanghai’s main competition while Singapore director Anthony Chen, US filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir, and UK animator and director Will Becher chaired the Asian New Talent, documentary and animation competition sections respectively.
The 28th edition of the festival ran from June 12-21.
Golden Goblet Awards 2026
Main Competition
Best Feature Film: Atlantic Rhapsody (China) / dir. ZHONG Kaifeng
Jury Grand Prix: Iluminada (Bel) / dir. Nicolás Rincón Gille
Best Director: Yassine El Idrissi, Halima (Mor)
Best Actor: ZHANG Songwen, Secret In The Box (China-HK)
Best Actress: Khadija Amari, Halima (Mor)
Best Screenplay: Reis Çelik, Night Of Blindness (Turkey-Ger)
Best Cinematography: HAO Jiayue, Atlantic Rhapsody (China)
Outstanding Artistic Achievement: The Miserable Mother (Ger-Fr) / dir. Susanne Heinrich
Asian New Talent
Best Film: Her First Taste (China) dir. GONG Yiwen
Best Director: Sompot Chidgasornpongse, 9 Temples To Heaven (Thai)
Best Actor: Sompop Songkampol, 9 Temples To Heaven (Thai)
Best Actress: MA Fufu, Her First Taste (China)
Best Screenplay: Ridham Janve, Hunter’s Moon (India-Ger)
Best Cinematography: Samiul Karim Shuptak, The Blind Girl And An Elephant (Bang-Ger)
Short Films & Animation
Best Animated Short Film: If Only (Bel) / dir. Ada Güvenir
Best Live Action Short Film: Sitting Bird (Can) / dir. Athena Han
Best Animation Film: Lucy Lost (Fr) / dir. Olivier Clert
Best Documentary Film: Notes Unheard (China) dir. GU Jun
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