China’s film community has gathered in the city of Xining for the annual FIRST International Film Festival, which celebrates independent voices and provides a platform for emerging talent to showcase their work to the world. This is the festival’s 17th edition and the first one to take place in person since the COVID pandemic disrupted activities in China for the past three years.
The festival, which began on July 23, is expected to attract full flights and crowded trains as cinema fans from Beijing and beyond make their way to Xining. The city, located at an elevation of 2,275 meters, offers picturesque mountain surroundings, reminiscent of the Sundance Film Festival in the United States.
While there are differences in content control between China and the United States, the FIFF, like Sundance, provides a platform for Chinese filmmakers to test the market for their ideas. Short films, many of which are created by students, are screened at the festival every year.
According to festival founder Song Wen, FIFF is invaluable for nurturing young filmmaking talent in China. It provides opportunities for new encounters, building relationships, exchanging ideas about movies, and receiving training.
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The festival features a total of 98 films over its eight-day run, including 27 feature films and 71 short films. The opening film is “Art College 1994,” an animation by acclaimed painter-turned-director Liu Jian. The film explores student life in the 1990s and the impact of China’s economic reforms on society. One of the notable films submitted is Malaysia’s undocumented immigrant drama “Abang Adik,” which has already won awards at international festivals and is competing for the festival’s main prize.
This year, the jury is led by Joan Chen, who gained global recognition through her role in Bernardo Bertolucci’s epic film “The Last Emperor.” Chen expressed her excitement to meet a new wave of Chinese filmmakers and experience their fresh voices and perspectives. She also hopes to contribute her unique experiences to the discussions held at the festival.
FIFF has a track record of nurturing young talents who have gone on to achieve success in the industry. Directors like Wen Muye, whose debut feature “Dying to Survive” grossed over $431 million, and Shao Yihui, whose first feature “B For Busy” collected $36 million, first showcased their short films at the festival.
The festival’s closing film, “Trending Topic,” is a socially-savvy thriller that explores the impact of viral grassroots media stories on people in China. Directed by Xin Yukun, whose debut film “The Coffin in the Mountain” won the best feature award at FIFF, the film features Zhou Dongyu, one of China’s biggest stars.
In addition to film screenings, FIFF offers seminars and workshops to support budding filmmakers. The short-short movement in China, fueled by the country’s large smartphone market, is a prominent aspect of the festival. With over one billion smartphone owners in China, many filmmakers are using their devices to create short films. FIFF’s short-short program/competition showcases 20 films, all lasting five minutes or less. The festival also includes a Filmmaking Forum to generate ideas and a Rough Cut Workshop to help filmmakers refine their documentaries.
Joan Chen looks forward to experiencing distinct and authentic film language, evocative cinematic images and sounds at the festival. She also anticipates being challenged by new questions about the human condition that arise from the films.
In conclusion, the FIRST International Film Festival in Xining provides a platform for independent voices in China and cultivates young filmmaking talent. The festival attracts filmmakers and cinema fans from across the country and beyond, offering a diverse lineup of films, seminars, and workshops. It serves as a melting pot for new encounters, ideas, and training, fostering the growth of the Chinese film industry.
