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Lights, camera, truth! The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is buzzing with cinematic energy this year, and American scholar Bill Nichols – a rockstar in documentary film circles – just dropped some wisdom bombs as head juror for the Golden Goblet Award's documentary section.
From Campus to Shanghai: A Scholar's Journey
Nichols, whose textbooks shape film schools worldwide, called his Shanghai visit 'eye-opening.' Between bites of xiaolongbao , he praised the city's blend of futuristic skylines and intimate storytelling spaces: 'There's a hunger here for raw, authentic narratives.'
Why Docs Matter in 2024
'Documentaries aren't just films – they're empathy machines,' Nichols told journalist Lyne Lin. With TikTok shortening attention spans , he argues docs now play a crucial role: 'They force us to sit with complexity, whether it's climate change or AI ethics.'
His pandemic-era hot take? 'When reality got stranger than fiction, people finally understood – truth needs curation, not just cameras.'
The Golden Goblet Standard
As jury president, Nichols looks for films that 'punch you in the gut then make you want to hug the world.' Early favorites? Stories about Gen Z activists and VR-assisted historical recreations.
Final thought? 'Great documentaries don't give answers – they make better questions.' Catch his full masterclass recap on SIFF's official channels!
, he praised the city's blend of futuristic skylines and intimate storytelling spaces: 'There's a hunger here for raw, authentic narratives.'
, he argues docs now play a crucial role: 'They force us to sit with complexity, whether it's climate change or AI ethics.'
then make you want to hug the world.' Early favorites? Stories about Gen Z activists and VR-assisted historical recreations.
Catch his full masterclass recap on SIFF's official channels!
Golden Goblet Win…
Golden Goblet Gala Shines at Shanghai Film Fest 
