Overseasidol.com — On September 26, the 38th China Golden Rooster Awards nominations were announced, and Duan Aojuan received a Best Actress nomination for her role in Peaceful Years.
The news sparked heated discussion online. Some netizens admitted they had never heard of the film and were surprised that Duan, better known as a singer, could leap directly into a major award nomination.
The film has yet to be released in theaters. Director Li Ji explained that although they secured a screening permit, distributing a low-budget production is extremely difficult.
He said the cost of distribution could exceed the production cost itself, and all available funds had been invested into making the film.
The team has been seeking outside support to help cover release expenses.
Li Ji admitted he never expected the film to receive such recognition. The team was unprepared when the nomination was announced, even lacking a celebratory poster.
However, he noted that Duan’s performance had already impressed audiences during earlier festival screenings.
On set, she often stayed behind the camera to observe others and learn, even when she had no scenes to shoot. Li praised her dedication and called her a hardworking and talented young actress.
