A host of rising stars from East Asia, including Chinese director Huo Meng, Taiwanese actor Lee Hong-chi, and Macau-based Maxim Bessmertny, will unveil a dozen feature film projects and works in progress at the inaugural Festival of Young Cinema (Asia-Europe).
Running from Jan. 5-11, 2024, this festival aims to act as a conduit, linking mainland China markets and audiences with the creative production and sales industries supporting art-house cinema across Europe and Asia.
Kicking off the event is a gala screening of Ning Hao’s “The Movie Emperor” and a presentation of the restored version of Yonfan’s “Bugis Street.”
Marco Mueller, acclaimed for his roles in festivals such as Locarno, Rome, Venice, and Beijing, spearheads this initiative. Previously involved in founding the International Film Festival & Awards Macao (IFFAM) in 2016, Mueller brings his wealth of experience to this new platform.
The festival’s project market jury comprises notable figures like Singapore-based producer Jeremy Chua, festival director Deepti DCunha, producer Wang Yang, scriptwriter Wang Yixin, and production-sales executive Esther Yeung.
The showcased projects from Greater China encompass a diverse range: from Huo Meng’s “The Wind is Unstoppable” and Li Dongmei’s “The Fruit” to Tang Yongkang’s “Stars and the Moon” and Jing Yi’s “The Botanist in the White House.” Additionally, projects like “I Am the Happiest Baby in the World” by Lee Hong-Chi and “Another Green World” by Wang Kejing promise captivating narratives.
Noteworthy entries from Macau and international platforms include director Huang Tingting’s “Revisit” from Macau-China, Maxim Bessmertny’s feature debut “The Violin Case,” Huang Ruosong’s France-set “Chasing the Sun” in post-production, and Cici Li’s first foray into art-house cinema with “Birth.”
The Festival of Young Cinema stands poised to showcase a diverse array of cinematic endeavors, offering a platform for burgeoning talents to share their creative vision and narratives with a global audience.
