iQIYI's Original Series "The Thunder" Wins Magnolia Awards at 2020 Shanghai TV Festival

BEIJING, Aug. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ: IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, is pleased to announce that its original drama series The Thunder has won two Magnolia Awards at the 26th Shanghai Television Festival (STVF) held in Shanghai on August 7. The Thunder, a true-crime drama about a large-scale drug bust in China, received the awards for Best TV Series (China) and Best Original Screenplay (screen writers Chen Yuxin, Li Li and Qin Yuerong). This is the first year in the festival's history for online drama series to be considered eligible for award entry. 

As the production capabilities of online video platforms improve, the gap between online and traditional TV productions is narrowing. As a result, premium online drama series have become an important part of drama series' landscape in China. The Magnolia Award-winning The Thunder and the Magnolia Award-nominated Winter Begonia have set excellent examples for online content creators in the industry as the shows were highly acclaimed for their realistic topics and portrayals of traditional Chinese culture.

"This is an important milestone for online productions. I'd like to thank the crew for their dedication to creating a drama that depicts a major crime case with such realism and attention to detail," said Dai Ying, Vice President at iQIYI who heads up the Company's original drama division.

The Thunder is based on "Operation December 29", a major anti-drug operation in China, in which Li Fei, a narcotics police officer braved innumerable dangers to bring down the most notorious drug-making cartel in China. After years of experience in producing high-quality dramas, The Thunder saw iQIYI successfully tackle the true-crime genre, breaking new ground for online productions' portrayal of realistic subject matters.

"The realistic approach is the only one that allows the audience to enjoy exciting stories while reflecting on reality. It also helps us discover more talented actors," said Wang Xiaohui, iQIYI's Chief Content Officer at the 2020 Shanghai TV Festival Magnolia Awards Forum. 

iQIYI's original productions also received multiple awards and nominations at the festival. The Thunder was nominated for Best Director and Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Winter Begonia was named Best TV Series (China), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction. The nominations and awards demonstrate the industry's growing recognition of the Company's strengths in the realms of original and innovative content creation.

Established by National Radio and Television Administration, China Media Group and Shanghai Municipal People's Government in 1986 and presented for 26 years consecutively, the Magnolia Awards are among the most prestigious accolades recognizing excellence in the Chinese television industry. iQIYI's outstanding success at STVF further legitimizes the artistic merit of online productions and sets a new benchmark for all online drama series. The Company is setting a new standard that other online platforms can aspire to and driving the continued growth of the Chinese drama industry.

About iQIYI, Inc.

iQIYI, Inc. is an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China. Its corporate DNA combines creative talent with technology, fostering an environment for continuous innovation and the production of blockbuster content. iQIYI's platform features highly popular original content, as well as a comprehensive library of other professionally-produced content, partner-generated content and user generated content. The Company distinguishes itself in the online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core proprietary technologies. iQIYI attracts a massive user base with tremendous user engagement, and has developed a diversified monetization model including membership services, online advertising services, content distribution, live broadcasting, online games, IP licensing, online literature and e-commerce.

 

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SOURCE iQIYI, Inc.