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Interview with the producer of the first film about the Hani people presented at Filmfest Munich Interview with the producer of the first film about the Hani people presented at Filmfest Munich

Interview with the producer of the first film about the Hani people presented at Filmfest Munich

Rick W 0 7

The Communist Party of China declared in 2011 that poverty has been succesfuly eradicated in China. No wonder the film "Hani" with the world premiere at Tallin Black Nights and presented as a German premiere at Filmfest Munich has not yet been screened in China.

Director and screenwriter Hou Dasheng presents the story of a boy who belongs to the old community by the name of Hani.

But who are the Hani people? The Hani, or Ho or Hà Nhì, are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group. They form one of the 56 officially recognized nationalities of the People's Republic of China.

The director traveled with his mother to the Ailao Mountains where he met the Hani people. He got interested in their faith, their customs and in general their way of living.

This is the first film about the Hani. The young actors are not acting, they simple live their lives.

The protagonist, his name is also Hani tries to excape the poverty of his remoted village in the mountain area near the Chinese-Myanmar border. At the same time his biggest wish is to marry his friend Pushiha. This is what he is longing for, but he is poor, and therefore not suitable for the family of Pushiha, who are trading her as they are also poor.

This is a movie about resilience and to never give up hope.

I interviewed Halcyon Feng, the producer of the film at Filmfest Munich.

Watch the vidéo interview here:  https://youtu.be/pddiaOXJefY?si=6ZPqrk1H9r1Kj8E6

1.Was there a personal experience/event that prompted ? 有没有什么个人经历促使了您创作这部电影呢？
This all begins from when I was conducting ethnographic fieldwork,it brings me deep into the Ailao Mountains, where I observed the living conditions of the Hani people. This film marks the lives of nearly six million Hani people have appeared on the big screen for the first time.
 
2.What was the biggest challenge with this film? （创作/拍摄）这部电影最大的挑战是什么？
With a budget of only €13,000, I had to figure out and ensure that every penny was used efficiently to complete the film. The children in the film were all non -professional actors, which made the shooting process unlimitedly longer. Moreover, I couldn’t understand their language, so we just relied on expressions and emotions to determine that if a scene captured the performance I envisioned.
 
3.What inspired you to create Hani? 是什么激发了您创作《哈尼》的灵感？
To me, the fate of the Hani people is crystal clear: growing up without parents; leaving school after just learning to write their names in Mandarin; getting married at 14 to 16 years old and having one or more children; working as migrant workers while they’re still young, contributing to the world’s demand for cheaper goods; Then continuing leaving their children in the village to inherit this destiny cycle. On a broader scale, China’s ethnic classification policies largely stem from Stalin -era Soviet practices. Observing how similar the policies impact Europe today like the conflict, we can still see shadows of the policies. It makes me worry about the future implications to its neighboring ethnic group
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Rick W 0 9
This year, Curtas Vila do Conde joins Vienna Shorts and the Reykjavík International Film Festival to present "Radical Intimacy", a film program that challenges how we perceive intimacy in the contemporary world.
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The 33rd edition of Curtas Vila do Conde – International Film Festival brings together a distinguished group of professionals from the contemporary film and arts landscape to serve on the juries of its various competitive sections.
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Alexander Payne President of the International Jury of the Venezia 82 Competition Alexander Payne President of the International Jury of the Venezia 82 Competition

Alexander Payne President of the International Jury of the Venezia 82 Competition

Rick W 0 22

American director Alexander Payne (The Holdovers, Sideways, Nebraska, The Descendants,) will be the president of the International Jury of the Competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival (August 27 - September 6, 2025), which will assign the Golden Lion for Best Film, as well as other official awards.

The decision was made by the Board of Directors of La Biennale di Venezia, who confirmed the recommendation of the Director of the Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera.

 

In accepting the proposal, Alexander Payne said: “It’s an enormous honor and joy to serve on the jury at Venice.  Although I share a filmmaker’s ambivalence about comparing films against one another, I revere the Venice Film Festival’s nearly 100-year history of loudly celebrating film as an art form.  I couldn’t be more excited.”

 

Alberto Barbera commented: “Alexander Payne belongs to the small circle of filmmakers-cinephiles whose passion for cinema is fueled by knowledge of films of the past and curiosity about contemporary cinema, without boundaries or barriers of any kind. These qualities - along with his experience as a screenwriter - make him an ideal candidate to preside over the work of the Venice Jury, which is called upon to evaluate films from around the world. I am grateful to Alexander for accepting my invitation, which seals an acquaintance that goes back to the days of his graduation short film at UCLA.”

 

Prizes to be awarded

On the final night (September 6, 2025) of the upcoming 82nd Venice Film Festival, the International Jury of Venezia 82, chaired by Alexander Payne and composed of no more then nine international celebrities in the spheres of film and culture from different countries, will assign the following official prizes among the feature-length films in the Competition:

  • Golden Lion for Best Film
  • Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize
  • Silver Lion – Award for Best Director
  • Coppa Volpi for Best Actress
  • Coppa Volpi for Best Actor
  • Award for Best Screenplay
  • Special Jury Prize
  • Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress

 

Biographical Note

Alexander Payne grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and studied history and Spanish literature at Stanford before earning a master’s degree in film directing at UCLA. His movies – all comedies – are said to be characterized by “elegant construction, biting humor, and fine tragi-comic performances.” They have been nominated for a total of 24 Oscars, including four times for Best Picture and three times for Best Director. He has won twice for Best Adapted Screenplay – for Sideways (2004) and The Descendants (2011) -- and his latest, The Holdovers (2023), won Best Supporting Actress just last year. A lifelong film buff and ardent supporter of film preservation, he serves of the boards of The Film Foundation and the Telluride Film Festival. He is currently preparing a new film to be shot in rural Denmark, and his dream is to make a Western.

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The Festival Beat Special edition 1133 The Festival Beat Special edition 1133

The Festival Beat Special edition 1133

Rick W 0 22
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THE FESTIVAL BEAT MAKER ! SHARING MOTION AND EMOTION SINCE 1995  
 
We are working hard on a new version of our platform to better serve our community. Filmfestivals.com was established in 1995 before google even existed, turned into a social network in 2006 with a blog platform welcoming festivals and film professionnals with some 120 000 articles and counting. In the meantime we are busy maintaining the old site and offering unique visibility and promotion in our temp dailies to film and festivals pros. 
 
EMAIL ME FOR PROMOTION AND MARKETING HELP 
 
FOLLOW US : facebook0.thumbnail.png   twitter_logo.thumbnail.png      

We cover over 15 000 festivals worldwide and proudly share our knowledge of the Festival circuit with our community, we trust our audience will ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE even more once the new platform is up and running : stay tuned!. In case you missed any of these 1100+ newsletters ... you can find them all here.    

 

Digital Gym
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Lucy Liu to Receive Career Achievement Award and Present International Premiere of “Rosemead” at Locarno78
aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubG9jYXJub2Zlc3RpdmFsLmNoL2FwaS9jcnltcy90aHVtYm9yL3NvdXJjZS9kYW0vN2E4YjBiMWEtZWRmOS00Y2ZmLWFmYTgtNTI3M2M2NTFmOTgzL0NDNkE5QTVBNTNGRDJGNEY5OEY3QkRGRjhGNjE4N0FFP21nbmxVc2VySWQ9dGh1bWJvciZtZ25sVXNlclBTV0Q9cm9ibXVodA.jpg
Widely celebrated for her iconic performances across film, television, and stage, Lucy Liu will be honored with the prestigious Career Achievement Award at the Locarno Film Festival on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Following the award ceremony, Liu will present the international premiere of Rosemead (2025), directed by Eric Lin, alongside the film’s cast and crew on the Piazza Grande. The following day, she will engage in a public discussion with the festival audienc
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Lucy Liu to Receive Career Achievement Award and Present International Premiere of “Rosemead” at Locarno78

Rick W 0 8
aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubG9jYXJub2Zlc3RpdmFsLmNoL2FwaS9jcnltcy90aHVtYm9yL3NvdXJjZS9kYW0vN2E4YjBiMWEtZWRmOS00Y2ZmLWFmYTgtNTI3M2M2NTFmOTgzL0NDNkE5QTVBNTNGRDJGNEY5OEY3QkRGRjhGNjE4N0FFP21nbmxVc2VySWQ9dGh1bWJvciZtZ25sVXNlclBTV0Q9cm9ibXVodA.jpg Widely celebrated for her iconic performances across film, television, and stage, Lucy Liu will be honored with the prestigious Career Achievement Award at the Locarno Film Festival on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Following the award ceremony, Liu will present the international premiere of Rosemead (2025), directed by Eric Lin, alongside the film’s cast and crew on the Piazza Grande. The following day, she will engage in a public discussion with the festival audience at the Forum @Spazio Cinema.

With a career spanning over three decades, critically acclaimed actress and filmmaker Lucy Liu has starred in films that have collectively grossed over $3.7 billion worldwide. From her iconic roles in Kill Bill, Charlie’ s Angels, Chicago, Set It Up, Presence, and Red One, Liu continues to redefine what it means to be a leading woman in Hollywood. In Rosemead, Liu portrays an ailing woman racing against time to protect her son from his violent obsessions in this gripping drama inspired by true events. In addition to starring in the film, Liu also serves as a producer.

Liu's career began with her breakout role in Ally McBeal, earning both Emmy and SAG nominations, and she has since become a pioneering force in television. Her extensive credits include standout series like Why Women Kill, Elementary, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Star Wars: Visions, and A Man in Full. Beyond acting, Liu has proven herself a multifaceted artist, directing episodes of Marvel’ s Luke Cage, Elementary, Why Women Kill, and American Born Chinese (2023), while also receiving acclaim for her documentary short Meena (2014), which tackled human trafficking. As a producer, she championed impactful projects like Freedom’ s Fury and Redlight, and recently voiced and produced the Emmy-nominated VR experience The Pirate Queen (2024), which is expanding into a graphic novel.

A celebrated visual artist and recipient of the Harvard University Arts Medal, Liu’s mixed-media paintings and sculptures have been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, including the National Museum of Singapore, the Napa Valley Museum and the New York Studio School. She is being commissioned to create a series of paintings by the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne for 2026. As a UNICEF Ambassador for over two decades, Liu’s humanitarian efforts have earned her prestigious accolades, including the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award and the Women’s World Award.

Liu also became only the second Asian American woman in nearly 60 years to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. With an unwavering commitment to pushing creative and cultural boundaries, Lucy Liu continues to inspire across all mediums—from film and television to art, literature, and humanitarian work.

Karlovy Vary IFF Unveils Official Selection and Juries of the 59th Edition Karlovy Vary IFF Unveils Official Selection and Juries of the 59th Edition

Karlovy Vary IFF Unveils Official Selection and Juries of the 59th Edition

Rick W 0 7
"The 59th Karlovy Vary IFF’s Official Selection offers an exciting display of the diversity of contemporary arthouse cinema. Answering exclusively to their artistic integrity, the filmmakers who have accepted the invitation to premiere their brand new works in Karlovy Vary fearlessly protect the right to challenge expectations, to disrupt stereotypes and to win over hearts and minds with equal intensity. Disregarding budgetary constraints, these filmmakers from countries such as Bangladesh, Lithuania, Norway and Colombia push the boundaries while keeping in mind the necessary connection between a film and its audience.
 
The Karlovy Vary IFF has always addressed political issues through powerful individual stories, fully supporting artists and their freedom of expression. Today we are announcing 11 titles from the usual dozen films in the Crystal Globe Competition. The remaining one comes from Iran; for the safety of its makers, it has been decided to postpone its announcement until closer to the festival."
 
Karel Och, artistic director of Karlovy Vary IFF
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CRYSTAL GLOBE COMPETITION
 
 
 
 
 
 
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SPIRITUAL DESTINY - book reel

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SPIRITUAL DESTINY book reel link:      https://youtu.be/_ddE2M9L8d0

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJTFTNQS

In Spiritual Destiny, the inaugural novel of the Alp to Taw Chronicles and the first book of The Destiny Trilogy, readers are introduced to Joseph Arthur Golden-Eagle, known as JAG, a full-blooded Pequot Native American from Stonington, Connecticut. Raised by Night Owl and Morning Dove, JAG embodies his ancestors' guiding values: "DON'T TAKE what is not yours; DO TAKE care of what is yours, and Mother Earth will provide for you forever." His early life is laced with unusual events and encounters. While the narrative unfolds in familiar contemporary settings, subtle undercurrents hint at profound revelations yet to come. This layering invites readers to ponder the unseen influences shaping our world and sets the stage for transformative events in subsequent installments of the series.

Spiritual Destiny masterfully intertwines the familiar with the enigmatic, crafting a tale that resonates deeply and leaves one contemplating the boundaries between the known and the extraordinary. It challenges readers to reflect on their roles within the broader tapestry of existence and prepares them for a journey that extends beyond the ordinary, hinting at the profound interconnectedness of all things. As the world grapples with overconsumption, environmental degradation, and societal discord, JAG recognizes the urgency of these challenges. He embarks, unknown to him, on a transformative journey to lead humanity toward a more responsible way of life, rooted in ancient wisdom yet vital to our future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James W. Hawk was born in New Eagle, Pennsylvania, and grew up in East Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Cleveland State University.

Dr. Raymond Foery, Professor Emeritus - Quinnipiac University Film, Television, and Media Arts, said about Hawk’s work: "A truly imaginative filmmaker with a highly sophisticated sense of cinematic acuity. Jim has been remarkably active in various genres. As a director of narrative fiction, he has shown a sure hand with actors and a sophisticated appreciation of mise-en-scene. As a creator of animated visual motifs, Jim has displayed a mastery of the latest techniques and a sophisticated sense of composition complemented by a rich appreciation of theatrical style. Each of his projects also reveals the mind of an artist grappling with the eternal philosophical dilemmas of our existence on this planet, as well as some speculation about those other planets out there. In short, Jim’s work forces us to think as well as to look."

Jan Harlan (executive producer for Stanley Kubrick & Steven Spielberg) gave Hawk's work high marks.

F. Miguel Valenti assessed it as better than much of what is released these days.

One of Hawk’s films was exhibited at an art exhibition in Rome, Italy. Two of his films were award-winners, two were finalists, four were semi-finalists, and two were quarter-finalists at film festivals worldwide. A Hawk film was recently awarded semi-finalist at a science fiction film festival out of a thousand entries. He has had films screened at 64 film festivals and venues worldwide, with 112 films being official selections.

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Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel serves as President of the jury 3rd edition of Biarritz Film Festival - NOUVELLES VAGUES Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel serves as President of the jury 3rd edition of Biarritz Film Festival - NOUVELLES VAGUES

Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel serves as President of the jury 3rd edition of Biarritz Film Festival - NOUVELLES VAGUES

Rick W 0 22

 

 

©Erika Hebbert

 

 

The Biarritz Film Festival – NOUVELLES VAGUES is honored to welcome Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel as this year’s Jury President. Norwegian director and screenwriter born in 1990, he embodies a new generation of European filmmakers whose sensitivity and narrative mastery are revitalizing the landscape of auteur cinema.

Coming from a legendary cinematic lineage — grandson of Liv Ullmann and Ingmar Bergman — Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel has carved out his own artistic path, far from the shadows of his illustrious predecessors. His work, characterized by a subtle exploration of human relationships, unspoken tensions, and social dynamics, resonates strongly in Armand (2024), his debut feature film which was awarded the Caméra d’Or at Cannes (prize for the best first feature across all sections) as well as the FIPRESCI Prize at the European Film Awards. Centered on an incident between two children in a school, the film delicately probes the adult world through the lens of childhood — a theme that aligns closely with the spirit of the festival.

Through both his short and feature films, he explores youth with a gaze that is both critical and empathetic, capturing its flaws, raw emotions, and search for identity that define this pivotal stage of life. His cinematic approach — at the crossroads of the personal and the political — makes him an ideal jury president for a festival devoted to youth: their dreams, their anger, their contradictions, and their transformative power.

Under his leadership, the jury will strive to honor bold works that carry a strong and sincere vision of contemporary youth. His presence promises a thoughtful and discerning perspective on emerging voices in cinema, in harmony with the festival’s core values of attentiveness, innovation, and the transmission of stories.

Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, born in 1990, is a Norwegian director and screenwriter, based in Oslo. He studied directing at Westerdals School of arts. His debut feature Armand (2024), starring Renate Reinsve, won the Camera d’or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and the European Discovery - Prix FIPRESCI at the 37th European Film awards. In 2025, he earned a nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement for a First feature at the 77th Directors Guild of America Awards. 

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Bentonville Film Festival Announces Winners of 11th Annual Festival Bentonville Film Festival Announces Winners of 11th Annual Festival

Bentonville Film Festival Announces Winners of 11th Annual Festival

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BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL, LED BY GEENA DAVIS, ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 11TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL

 

“Rosemead” Wins Best Narrative Award

“The Librarians” Wins Best Documentary Award

 

The Bentonville Film Foundation, in collaboration with founding partner, Walmart, and presenting sponsor, Coca-Cola, announced the winners of their narrative, documentary, homegrown, short film, and episodic categories from the 2025 Bentonville Film Festival’s competition program. The 11th anniversary of the festival ran from June 16-22 in Bentonville, AR. The annual Festival is a globally recognized platform that champions the transformative power of storytelling—creating space for a world where every voice matters and every story is seen, heard, and valued.

 

“Rosemead” from Eric Lin won the award for Best Narrative Award and “The Librarians” directed by Kim A. Snyder took home the prize for Best Documentary Award. Additionally, the Rising to the Challenge Award, was presented to Lucy Liu, producer and star of “Rosemead”. The Rising to the Challenge Award has been given to a select few artists in the history of Bentonville Film Festival and honoring those who represent the true impact of supporting independent film both in front of and behind the camera. The Rising to the Challenge Award celebrates artists who put their talent, passion and experience on the line in the service of empowering stories that are otherwise underrepresented.

 

“These awards reflect the passion and drive of storytellers, whose work will continue to broaden perspectives and engage audiences throughout the year,” said Bentonville Film Festival Chair Geena Davis. “We congratulate our BFF award winners and we’re so thankful to every filmmaker here for their contributions to the success of this year’s BFF!”

 

Additional winners are as follows:

 

Best Narrative

Jury: Marie Jamora (Director; Guest Artistic Director of AFI's Directing Workshop for Women), Bomani J. Story (Director, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster)

 

Best Narrative: ROSEMEAD

(Director, Eric Lin; Writer, Marilyn Fu; Producers, Mynette Louie, Andrew Corkin, Lucy Liu)

Jury Statement: “Rosemead” captures the terrifying realities of motherhood in our contemporary era.  When culture, society, and healthcare break down, how can a mother protect her own child? With a powerhouse performance from the often underused Lucy Liu, you understand every choice she makes. Director Eric Lin sparks real world conversations about the society we’re living in through an intimate, unflinching film based on true events in the San Gabriel Valley. The very essence of what great cinema can do. 

 

Special Jury Mention for Directorial Vision: COLOR BOOK

(Director/Writer, David Fortune; Producers, Kiah Clingman, Kristen Uno, Autumn Bailey-Ford)

Jury Statement: David Fortune’s “Color Book” makes daring choices through form and subject matter.  In a stripped down tale of a father just trying to get his son to a baseball game, the film unearths profound themes about the world we live in with a consistent command of beautiful visuals, performances, and crisp storytelling. Fortune’s vision speaks through a confident hand like he’s done this many times before.

 

Special Jury Mention for Ensemble Cast: ADULT CHILDREN

(Director/Producer, Ric

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