LayarHijau – The 38th Golden Rooster Awards have officially concluded, yet instead of celebrating the winners, the spotlight has shifted to the unexpected absence of the Ne Zha 2 production team. Their no-show during the ceremony—despite winning Best Animated Feature—has reignited public debate over the fairness of China’s most prestigious film awards.
Although director Jiaozi is known for rarely appearing in public due to his deep focus on creative work, the Ne Zha 2 team has consistently sent representatives to major award events in the past. This time, however, no one went onstage, and the official account remained silent. The situation triggered a wave of speculation: were they simply too busy, or had they lost interest in the Golden Rooster Awards altogether?
Host Su Youpeng offered an official clarification. During the November 15 ceremony in Xiamen, he announced that the Ne Zha 2 team was currently focused on developing their next project and thus could not attend. The trophy and certificate would be delivered later by the organizers. Soon after, the phrase “Jiaozi is too bold” began trending on Weibo, with many recalling his past statement that he would not attend any events until his new work was completed—leading netizens to praise him for sticking to his principles.
Even with this explanation, many netizens interpreted the absence as an indirect signal of declining industry confidence in the Golden Rooster Awards. Some argued that the event feels increasingly dominated by insiders, leaving the public with the impression that true open competition is fading. Satirical comments spread quickly, with the awards mockingly dubbed the “Golden Mou Awards,” referencing the influence of renowned director Zhang Yimou.
As one of the most powerful figures in Chinese cinema, Zhang Yimou served as this year’s jury chair. The issue, in the eyes of many, was not his capability but the pattern of winners—most of whom appeared closely connected to his long-standing circle of collaborators. Jackson Yee, who won Best Actor, has worked with him three times and often receives high praise from the director. Meanwhile, Best Actress winner Song Jia played the lead in his latest film.
Song Jia’s win for Her Story also stirred debate. Although the film was well-received and Song Jia is widely respected, many viewers believed other nominees offered more challenging performances. Yong Mei’s role in Like a Rolling Stone was frequently mentioned, with audiences highlighting her nuanced and emotionally layered portrayal. This fueled sharp public commentary, including jabs that more films may start heavily marketing their actors as major award contenders simply to match the recurring patterns of recent winners.
Questions grew louder as people examined the jury lineup. Actor Zhang Yi has collaborated multiple times with Zhang Yimou. Several technical jurors—from cinematography to art direction and editing—have long professional histories with him dating back to Hero and House of Flying Daggers. It didn’t take long for netizens to label this year’s panel as “Zhang Yimou’s squad.”
Criticism intensified when recalling last year’s Golden Rooster Awards, where Zhang Yimou’s film Article 20 dominated despite him not serving as a juror at the time—though several close associates were. The similar pattern seen in back-to-back years has led many to believe the awards are losing diversity in perspective.
Ultimately, the controversy is not about Zhang Yimou’s abilities, the achievements of Jackson Yee, or the quality of the winning films. The public does not deny their talents. The issue lies in a judging structure that feels too concentrated among the same group of people, creating the impression that the awards revolve around a closed circle. As long as public trust in the independence of the judging process keeps eroding, it will be difficult for the Golden Rooster Awards to maintain their image as China’s highest cinematic benchmark.
The absence of the Ne Zha 2 production team has now become a symbol of this growing unease—reinforcing the sense that something within the system is amiss. Without greater transparency and a broader range of perspectives within the jury, controversy will continue to shadow the Golden Rooster Awards every year, with or without the presence of their winners.
