Hey cinephiles! 🎬 Recently, at the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF 2025) in sunny Sanya, Belgian filmmaker and lead actor Melissa Mabesoone dropped some serious insights on the Chinese mainland’s cinematic diversity. Nominated for Best Short Film at the Golden Coconut Awards, her film "Maturation Station" made its Asian and Chinese mainland premiere—and it was nothing short of eye-opening! 👀✨
Melissa told CGTN’s Zhang Meng that the festival vibe was electric. Meeting directors and storytellers from the Chinese mainland, Southeast Asia, Europe and beyond felt like a global jam session of ideas. From indie shorts to high-budget blockbusters, everyone was swapping tips on everything from storytelling hacks to post-production magic. 🛠️🎥
For young creatives in South Asia and Southeast Asia, this kind of cross-cultural exchange is pure gold. Imagine picking up a narrative trick from a director from South Korea, then combining it with a local folklore twist from Indonesia—all under the same palm-fringed sky of Hainan. 🌴🌏
Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or just a movie buff, the takeaway is clear: cinema is more than screens and scripts. It’s a bridge between cultures, a platform to share untold stories, and a reminder that great ideas don’t need passports. Ready to dive into more global film festivals? Keep your popcorn 🍿 close!
Reference(s):
HIIFF 2025: Belgian director reflects on China's cinematic diversity
cgtn.com
