Looking for the Boundary of Consciousness: Excellent Works of the BJIFF TALENTS Presented

The 13th BJIFF

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The 13th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) has opened in a season full of hope and vitality. It also means that the final result of the highly anticipated 2nd BJIFF TALENTS will be unveiled at this moment.

After rigorous selection around the world, five trainees, including Dong Mingxing, Chen Ruoxuan, Zhou Jizhi, Zhu Xinyi and Zhang Xiaobo, were selected from the 12 finalists. After deep communication and discussion with the supervisor and producer of the team, they made a short film shooting. Some of them come from behind the stage to the front stage, some are crossover directors for the first time, some have profound literary skills, and some have both Chinese and Western temperament because of studying abroad.

The theme of this BJIFF TALENTS is the “Boundary of Consciousness”. With the rapid development of science and technology, breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and virtual reality and other technologies, human consciousness has been extended to an unprecedented scope. Perhaps we are already living in the "future" imagined in the science fiction stories of the past.

Meanwhile, the development of science and technology has put our emotions and souls to the test. What impact will artificial intelligence and virtual reality bring to the work and life style in the future? Several young creators of this BJIFF TALENTS will give their answers through different short films from the forefront of the collision between technology and human emotions.

If someone asks "What's the hottest thing in the world right now?", and someone must have answered “artificial intelligence!” Its amazing information processing efficiency has brought people's attention and vigilance to AI to a high point. Among the five short films to be presented this time, most of them are about AI.

First, The Chamber of Memories, written and directed by trainee Dong Mingxing, describes a future in which people can easily upload and download consciousness using AI and technological means, making it possible to "revive" a person. The story focuses on whether love is still meaningful if human beings fall in love with AI without emotional consciousness. Dong Mingxing, who has worked in the visual effects industry for many years, and has been involved in the post-production of special effects for films such as Leap and Plurality. This short film will also show her unique visual aesthetics. The short film also features teacher Mi Tiezeng, who starred in 12 Citizens, and new actors Zheng Nanxi and Chen Kang.

　　Poster of The Chamber of Memories

　　Production crew group photo of The Chamber of Memories

　　Shooting sidelight of The Chamber of Memories

Another very interesting AI short film Mother Returned with Children written and directed by trainee Chen Ruoxuan. After acting in many acclaimed works such as Evil Minds and Faith Makes Great, the creation and shooting of this film is Chen Ruoxuan's new attempt from actor to director and screenwriter. Many old actors such as Zhang Shaogang, Dong Xuan and Pan Shaquan, as well as young actors Li Jiaqi, Wen Xin and He Wenjun are also invited to participate in the film. Mother Returned with Children cleverly connects a seemingly ordinary family story with the future world through the form of human and AI interaction, to explore the relationship between science and technology and blood relationships.

　　Poster of Mother Returned with Children

　　Production crew group photo of Mother Returned with Children

　　Shooting sidelight of Mother Returned with Children

The December Plan, a short film directed by young director Zhang Xiaobo, combines various science fiction elements, such as AR, artificial intelligence and consciousness uploading, with a unique perspective to show the challenges and opportunities that future technology may bring to human emotions. But will finding the answer unlock the inner code? It is thought-provoking but also leaves room for the audience's imagination. Powerful actors including Deng Fei, Ji Li and Bai Yihua joined in the cast of the short film.

　　Poster of The December Plan

　　Production crew group photo of The December Plan

　　Shooting sidelight of The December Plan

In addition to the high-profile topic of artificial intelligence, virtual reality is also a source of inspiration for the trainees' creations. Beijing Is Yet to Come, a short film written and directed by Zhou Jizhi, sets most of its narrative in virtual games. Through a game to provoke people to think about the meaning of life, future technology may allow us to experience repeated life in the game, but the real life cannot be from the beginning again. There are many interesting and creative scenes in the film that reflect Zhou Jizhi's unrestrained ways. In order to create a sense of reality, the crew also specially filmed in Huairou, creating a real "big traffic jam". The short film also stars young actor Wang Jinlin.

　　Poster of Beijing Is Yet to Come

　　Production crew group photo of Beijing Is Yet to Come

　　Shooting sidelight of Beijing Is Yet to Come

Mama and Her Sleepless Nights, a short film written and directed by trainee Zhu Xinyi, tells the story of a 65-year-old lonely and visually impaired woman who is addicted to VR and "sees" everything in virtual reality. No matter in the technologically advanced future or today, we should understand the inner world of the elderly and give them care and warmth. As a director who studied abroad, Zhu Xinyi's works are favored by senior filmmakers at home and abroad. She is an aggressive player with great style.

　　Poster of Mama and Her Sleepless Nights

　　Production crew group photo of Mama and Her Sleepless Nights

　　Shooting sidelight of Mama and Her Sleepless Nights

Movies are like time machines, which allow us to travel through time and space in an instant and experience different lives. Movies are also like a mirror, allowing us to see different worlds and possibilities. The five short films are both futuristic and subtle, and each one is the embodiment of trainees' creative ideas. Technology is the hope of the future, and emotion is our link to the world. Based on inheritance and the future, the five short films illustrate the positive influence of excellent traditional Chinese culture on the future, transmit the warm and upward spiritual power, guide the audience to pay attention to the positive value of life and science and technology, and inspire them to think about the meaning of life.

At the closing event of the 13th BJIFF, five trainees will meet audiences and exchange on their short films. We expect these young directors to bring extraordinary audio-visual feasts through their works, and we also expect them to create more masterpieces in the future.