China - work in progress 2020 - pre-production
6 months waiting for my brain
a video-diary documentary about faith, innovation and lockdown
As the only non - Chinese patient to have an Acoustic Neuroma brain tumour successfully removed,
in Qilu Hospital, Shandong, China, trust, belief and love were essential ingredients, bypassing culture, language and tradition.
Just when I thought I had my film sewn up, lock down happened, and in limbo lockdown in the UK,
my isolation video-diaries are the only way for me to finish my work, while waiting for my brain to heal and my return to China.
China - work in progress 2020 - pre-production
6 months waiting for my brain
a video-diary documentary about faith, innovation and lockdown
As the only non - Chinese patient to have an Acoustic Neuroma brain tumour successfully removed,
in Qilu Hospital, Shandong, China, trust, belief and love were essential ingredients, bypassing culture, language and tradition.
Just when I thought I had my film sewn up, lock down happened, and in limbo lockdown in the UK,
my isolation video-diaries are the only way for me to finish my work, while waiting for my brain to heal and my return to China.
2019 - 2020
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The Sea Hut has won three prizes in China and was a finalist in the Lift Off sessions, UK. 2019.
It continues its journey on the festival circuit.
Thanks go to my dear collaborator Wang Ying and to my dear students from the BFAMCMC - I love you - 我爱你 - Wǒ ài nǐmen
中国高等院校影视学会第十九届年会
CHINESE UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATION FOR TV AND VISUAL ART 19th Annual Conference
Beijing Academy Awards for Documentary. First Prize for Innovation
First Prize for Sound Design
China Documentary Awards for Academia. First Prize
I am so honoured to win first prize for best documentary this weekend, 2nd November 2019, in Jinan, Shandong province, for my latest film, The Sea Hut, a documentary on my mother and her Chinese nanny, set in Shanghai, 1935.
Wow! I'm taken aback.
I have to add, without help from my dear old mama who told me her story over two years, Wang Ying, my colleague, some of my students, my school, the BFAMCMC, and the fishing village down the road, well it would not have happened. A film is always teamwork.
This annual event is a transnational Chinese collegial association event for visual art and academia. Comprised of Chinese scholars, thinkers, writers, artists, professors and graduate students, it rates as one of the most respected meetings in China. (Just had to put all that in.) So . . . I was blown away, and nervous. I did not say all I wanted, you can see in the video. . . But hey! I am still getting over a major brain surgery and feeling so grateful.
The Sea Hut is now officially on its way.
First Prize for Sound Design
China Documentary Awards for Academia. First Prize
I am so honoured to win first prize for best documentary this weekend, 2nd November 2019, in Jinan, Shandong province, for my latest film, The Sea Hut, a documentary on my mother and her Chinese nanny, set in Shanghai, 1935.
Wow! I'm taken aback.
I have to add, without help from my dear old mama who told me her story over two years, Wang Ying, my colleague, some of my students, my school, the BFAMCMC, and the fishing village down the road, well it would not have happened. A film is always teamwork.
This annual event is a transnational Chinese collegial association event for visual art and academia. Comprised of Chinese scholars, thinkers, writers, artists, professors and graduate students, it rates as one of the most respected meetings in China. (Just had to put all that in.) So . . . I was blown away, and nervous. I did not say all I wanted, you can see in the video. . . But hey! I am still getting over a major brain surgery and feeling so grateful.
The Sea Hut is now officially on its way.
2018
The HISFF International Short Film Festival Jury, Beijing
Festival du court métrage - Le HISFF international - Jury - Pékin
It was a great honour and fun to be part of the jury choosing 5 finalists for the HUA film festival. The list of nominated films will be announced in mid-November, and the list will be finalized by the final jury led by the rotating chairman of 2018HISFF, Zhang Yang. The famous South Korean director Lee Chang-Dong has accepted to be this year's HISFF final jury.
C'était mon grand honneur de faire partie du jury en choisissant 5 finalistes pour le Festival du film de HUA. La liste des films proposés sera annoncée à la mi-novembre, et la liste sera finalisée par le jury final dirigé par le Président Zhang Yang. Le célèbre réalisateur sud-coréen Lee Chang-dong a accepté le jury final de cette année HISFF.
Chang He (Left)
Chang He studied journalism in China for 20 years after graduating from journalism in 1997. In 2007, the photography “China Zoo” won the second prize in the World Environment Photo Competition (WPP) Natural Environment category. 2007 Photograph "Glass Box" exhibited at Fotoquai Photo Festival in Paris, France. The 2011 documentary film "1350KM" was selected by FIPA in France and CIFF in China. 2016 - Animated feature 2015 - Animated feature film <Wild Horns> Best Project of Wutianming Fund for Young Talents; won Cannes Film Market New Talents Forum's Special Mention Award. 2014 - Animated feature film <Dragon
Ren Changzhen (Right)
Ren Changzhen was director of CCTV’s People program between 2000 and 2005, participated in promotions of national projects including Beijing Olympics and Shanghai World Expo from 2005 to 2009. She founded Ren Changjian Documentary Studio in 2010 and was invited to be guest lecturer for Communication University of China. She is the chief director of A Bite of China season 1 and On the Road season 3.
The Blue Book of Film
The Blue Book of Film, an ambitious project which has been in the making for the past five years with over 17 writers and academics contributing, has been approved by UNESCO and printed in two languages – English and Chinese.
We - Wang Ying and I - had the honor to work with the Management Department of the BFA – Beijing Film Academy, Qingdao Campus - over six months, helping with the proofs and translation. We are extremely proud, and have been invited to join the team yearly to revise and update the statistics on the Chinese film market.
Qingdao is officially one of the 180 cultural cities which are a part of UNESCO'S CREATIVE CITY NETWORK bringing together seven disciplines: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music. “To foster innovation and creativity as key drivers for a more sustainable and inclusive urban development.”
Director General, Irina Bokova
We - Wang Ying and I - had the honor to work with the Management Department of the BFA – Beijing Film Academy, Qingdao Campus - over six months, helping with the proofs and translation. We are extremely proud, and have been invited to join the team yearly to revise and update the statistics on the Chinese film market.
Qingdao is officially one of the 180 cultural cities which are a part of UNESCO'S CREATIVE CITY NETWORK bringing together seven disciplines: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music. “To foster innovation and creativity as key drivers for a more sustainable and inclusive urban development.”
Director General, Irina Bokova
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2017 - 2018 Mentoring
I am delighted that three of the films which I mentored recently have done really well, receiving awards here in China and outside. Especially for Tao Gu, my dear friend and extremely talented filmmaker. His film Taming the Horse is on a non-stop tour, and is the hottest indie film in China at the moment, going from festival to festival.
Grand Prize for Best Canadian Feature - RIDM Montreal, International Feature Competition - Visions du Réel Nyon, Taming the Horse - a film by Tao Gu, Montgolfière d'Or - Festival des Trois Continents
Zou Qialing, Award for Excellence 2018, Shandong Short Film Festival, Documentary Mentor
The Builder - 30 minutes documentary
The Builder - 30 minutes documentary
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Jeanne Pope, Award of Excellence for Mentoring Work, Nanjing Film Festival, 2018
Zhang LuKun First Prize Documentary Section LIGHTSTAR AWARDS 2018 BFAMCMC CHINA
My Grandparents – 30 minutes documentary
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2017 - Tao Gu wins prestigious 3 Continents Film Festival, Golden Air Ballon 2017, for
Taming the Horse, Xun Ma
I am so proud of you my dear, dear friend, of your determination and vision, and so proud to
have been a part of this wonderful documentary
