VENICE, Italy -- 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.

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.