Xin Zhilei, who stars in the film "The Sun Rises On Us All," reacts with film fans at the red carpet of the premiere during the 82nd Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Sept. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Xin Zhilei: "To all the girls out there, if you have a dream, dare to imagine it and go after it -- you never know, it might just come true."
Chinese actress Xin Zhilei won the Best Actress award Saturday night at the 82nd Venice Film Festival for her role in The Sun Rises on Us All.
Directed by Chinese filmmaker Cai Shangjun, the film, known in Chinese as Ri Gua Zhong Tian, portrays a tragic romance of former lovers entangled by fate and unable to find redemption. Xin plays the leading female role.
Xin was presented with the Golden Lion trophy by Chinese actress Zhao Tao, a member of the international jury for this year's competition.
Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera (1st L) and Cai Shangjun (3rd L), director of the film "The Sun Rises On Us All," with the film's cast members Zhang Songwen (2nd L), Xin Zhilei (2nd R) and Feng Shaofeng pose at the red carpet of the premiere during the 82nd Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Sept. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
In her acceptance speech, Xin expressed that she felt both honored and proud to stand on the festival's stage as a Chinese actress.
She also thanked the film's crew and offered words of encouragement to young girls: "To all the girls out there, if you have a dream, dare to imagine it and go after it -- you never know, it might just come true."
The 82nd edition of Venice Film Festival runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6 at the Lido island of the Italian lagoon city, with 21 films competing in the main competition.
