"The professional competence and resilience of female creators are strong enough; What they lack is more resource support!" - Director Li Shaohong's remarks at NEWHER 3.0 seminar highlighted the key to breaking barriers for Chinese female filmmakers.

　　

Li Shaohong, Chinese-language Film and Television Director

Co-founder of NEWHER Women-Focused Film Section

In the height of summer, the rhythm of light and shadow pulses with energy. The NEWHER Women-Focused Film Section, a key segment of the 16th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), has once again stepped into the spotlight. Centered around the theme "Gathering the 'Her' Power in Cinema", The NEWHER 3.0 seminar was successfully held at the innovative and dynamic Beijing Shuangshu Cloud Science and Technology Cultural Park. Distinguished figures from the industry gathered together, including Li Shaohong, Co-founder of NEWHER and renowned Chinese-language film and television director; Cui Yan, Director of the BJIFF Operation Center at Beijing Radio & Television Station (BRTV); Xiong Ying, Manager of NEWHER and Special Invited Council Member of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development under the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the CPC; Zhang Shuo, Deputy General Manager of Beijing International Film Festival Co., Ltd. and Head of the Brand Development Department; NEWHER mentors Fu Jia, Sun Rong, and Zhang Qun; special guests Li Xiaofeng and Sun Yue; NEWHER young directors Xia Meng and Dong Mingxing; and Gao Hongsen, Communications Director of NEWHER 2.0. The assembly jointly reviewed the growth journey of NEWHER, discussed strategic upgrade paths for its 3.0 iteration, and officially launched the NEWHER Filmmakers Database, injecting powerful momentum into the future of Chinese-language women's cinema.

　　

Group Photo of Guests at NEWHER Women-Focused Film Section seminar

　　▍NEWHER in Bud: From 1.0 Incubation to 2.0 Advancement

Since its establishment, the NEWHER Women-Focused Film Section has remained committed to its mission of "discovering women's power and conveying the brilliance of women in film", solidifying its position as one of the most vibrant sections within BJIFF. NEWHER 1.0, with the theme "Telling Women's Stories Well", successfully incubated five short films on female themes. The NEWHER topic achieved a total online reach of over 30 million people. NEWHER 2.0, themed "Discovering More Possibilities", attracted over 200 creators to apply for participation. Ultimately, five selected directors completed five high-quality short films. The NEWHER topic reached more than 60 million people online. NEWHER has not only witnessed female filmmakers' creative talent, but has also gained valuable experience in resource matching, industry collaboration, and support for young filmmakers. Xiong Ying emphasized that NEWHER has grown from "a single creative concept" to an industry focus with "strong support from industry veterans, directors, and platforms".

　　

Event Scene of NEWHER Women-Focused Film Section Seminar

　　▍NEWHER 3.0: The NEWHER Filmmakers Database Makes the "Invisible 'Her' Power" Seen

NEWHER 3.0 has introduced a comprehensive strategic upgrade, building on the significant achievements of the previous two editions. This seminar officially released the strategic upgrade framework of NEWHER 3.0, which will systematically optimize and upgrade the workshop mechanism and project selection criteria. With the advancement of technologies such as AI and virtual filming, the NEWHER 3.0 Workshop & Masterclass will provide training in cutting-edge film technologies. This initiative responds to the new wave of film technology by promoting the close integration of artistic creation and technology in women's filmmaking.

　　

Xiong Ying, Special Invited Council Member of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development under the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the CPC Manager of NEWHER Women-Focused Film Section

The core breakthrough of NEWHER 3.0 lies in constructing a central resource system, the NEWHER Filmmakers Database. Its membership spans the entire industry chain, including directors, producers, screenwriters, editors, art directors, sound designers, colorists, and performers. This directly addresses the challenges that female filmmakers face, such as "low visibility and limited access to resources", by creating a closed-loop system of "discovery, cultivation, support, and tracking". NEWHER's manager, Xiong Ying, emphasized at the seminar: "This is not a static database, but a supportive 'industry home' that solves problems." Female creators will no longer need to fight alone.

　　▍Clashing Perspectives: Elevating Female Films from "Niche Topic" to "Industry Necessity"

The subsequent open discussion session brought the seminar to its climax. "What female creators lack most is not ability, but the sustainability of resource support," stated Co-founder Li Shaohong bluntly during the session. She appealed, "Establishing China's first dedicated competition category or awards section for female films within the Beijing International Film Festival platform holds significance far beyond the awards themselves. It is a crucial step towards enhancing the socio-cultural visibility and discursive power of female filmmakers." Female creators, she believes, have demonstrated exceptional professional competence and resilience in the industry, but they frequently lack sustained resource support and platform recognition. Addressing this, NEWHER mentor Sun Rong, Founder of Dino Films, proposed, "I recommend establishing China's first special fund for female filmmakers, ensuring funding through a triple-track model (government guidance + industry matching funds + public donations)." This initiative gained support from fellow NEWHER mentor Zhang Qun, CEO of Dadi Film: "The fund should prioritize supporting female workers behind the scenes, particularly those in technical roles like cinematography and sound."

Left: Sun Rong, Founder and CEO of Dino Films

Right: Zhang Qun, CEO of Dadi Film

"Female films should not become a gender-segregated island," astutely noted NEWHER mentor Fu Jia, General Manager of Beijing Leyi Chengbang Film. She pointed out that current discussions and support for female films carry a potential tendency to "inherently exclude men". Fu Jia argued, "The key lies in the subject matter and perspective, not the gender label of the creator." She emphasized the importance of actively welcoming male filmmakers who possess a deep understanding of and creative passion for women's issues and perspectives, encouraging cross-gender collaboration to gather broader creative forces and produce more diverse and rich works.

　　

Fu Jia, General Manager of Beijing Leyi Chengbang Film

To address the common challenges faced by young directors, particularly female directors, such as business negotiations, complex resource integration, and market positioning during project implementation, NEWHER mentor Zhang Qun proposed the concept of "post-selection support" and a "long-term mentorship" mechanism. "Selecting them and helping them get started is not enough - we must also accompany them further along the journey," she emphasized. "The organizing team or mentors must provide ongoing consultation and support at critical stages after projects leave the workshop, which can significantly increase the final conversion rate and success probability of these projects." Meanwhile, director Li Xiaofeng shared his personal insights: "The involvement of professional actors can bring a qualitative leap to film and television works. Whether in short films or feature productions, their professionalism, precise performative intensity, and profound understanding of characters can breathe soul into the work." He added, "Professional actors not only accurately convey the director's vision, but they also raise the overall artistic standard through nuanced performances, making the story more compelling and resonant. It is my sincere hope that every project can benefit from the support of professional actors; this is often the key to achieving excellence."

　　

Li Xiaofeng, Director and Screenwriter

Sun Yue, winner of the Best Screenplay Award in the Tiantan Award competition at the 15th BJIFF for Trapped, drew from her industry experience to suggest that professional screenwriters should engage deeply with practical creation to truly understand the demands of both artistry and the market. She emphasized, "Newcomers entering the industry need reliable mentors or partners for support. Such guidance is crucial for career development. From a support perspective, screenwriting training can facilitate full communication with creators at the early stages, broadening the depth and scope of young creators' vision. This helps them continue to delve deeply into genres they are familiar with while exploring more possibilities." Xia Meng, young director and Artistic Director of the NEWHER 2.0 Workshop, recommended categorizing projects into tracks such as emotion, family, and martial arts to avoid thematic homogenization. Resources and investment scales could then be matched according to these specific genres. "I truly hope to see some different stories in next year's 3.0 edition - not only those centered on marriage or fertility struggles."

Left: Sun Yue, Screenwriter

Right: Xia Meng, Artistic Director of NEWHER 2.0 Workshop

"60% of quality films fail in the distribution blind spot." Addressing the common phenomenon among young directors of "prioritizing creation over market awareness", Gao Hongsen, Founder and CEO of G-Point Film and Publicity Director of the NEWHER 2.0 Workshop, emphasized the need to enhance their promotional mindset and market awareness: "Many young directors show great passion and talent in creative production but lack understanding of distribution strategies, audience targeting, and marketing logic. We recommend incorporating marketing courses early in the creative process to help young directors better understand market dynamics." NEWHER young director Dong Mingxing suggested strengthening cooperation and exchange with international film festivals. By designating dedicated liaisons and organizing promotional sessions, the section could enhance its visibility and appeal, thereby supporting the global reach of Chinese female films.

Left: Dong Mingxing, Director and Co-founder of Global Mofy

Right: Gao Hongsen, Founder and CEO of G-Point Film

Publicity Director of the NEWHER 2.0 Workshop

The NEWHER buds emerge, anticipating a pond in full glory. With the preparatory launch of the NEWHER Filmmakers Database, the implementation of innovative initiatives, and the convergence of industry-wide strength, NEWHER Women-Focused Film Section 3.0 is laying the foundation for a golden era of Chinese female films. Let us all hope that this fertile ground, nourished by the power of "Her," will produce more Chinese-language films that illuminate our times and move the world!