On September 13, the global film submission for the 5th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) was launched, marking the prelude to the 5th HIIFF.
Time flies, and the HIIFF has journeyed through several years. Looking behind the scenes at the working groups, the youthful and vibrant figures of volunteers can be seen at every edition of the festival. They come seeking the light, and in turn, become the light themselves.
Like a sudden gift in life
"I came to Sanya because I love the sea, and because I love film, I met everyone at the Hainan Island International Film Festival," said Bao Deliang, a student at Sanya Institute of Technology.
Bao Deliang is from Henan. Having harbored a dream of film since childhood, he is currently majoring in Film and Television Directing at Sanya Institute of Technology.
Loving film, obsessed with film. It was like receiving an unexpected gift in life; he had never imagined that one day he would be able to get so close to film.
Bao Deliang was a freshman when he became a volunteer for the 4th HIIFF.
It was a fleeting encounter. During the festival's opening ceremony, director Bi Gan passed by him. At that moment, their eyes met, and Bi Gan gave him a look of approval. Although it was just a fleeting instant, for Bao Deliang, it spoke louder than a thousand words.
"It might have been an unintentional gesture from the director, but it is something I will never forget for a long time," Bao Deliang said. His favorite film directed by Bi Gan is Kaili Blues. The director integrates his own personal life experiences and his perspective on the world into the film. The use of long takes in the movie is poetic and highly thought-provoking. The director's creation of an outstanding work on a low budget has given Bao Deliang, who wants to make his own film, immense motivation.
The experience of being a volunteer was like a beam of light illuminating Bao Deliang's budding film dream. In the future, he looks forward to delving deeply into the film industry and hopes to bring his own film works to participate in the festival.
Will continue to sign up as a festival volunteer
"I didn't expect that becoming a volunteer would help me find my own path. For a long time, I was lost in confusion, unable to see myself clearly or my future," said Zhang Yubo from Shandong.
Zhang Yubo was also a volunteer at the 4th HIIFF; he initially volunteered because of his love for watching films. During the festival, he gained an in-depth understanding of the process of a film going from 0 to 1, realizing the hard-won nature of film production and the dedicated effort behind the scenes. The endless depth behind the starlight is the result of everyone's joint efforts toward a firm goal.
Recalling the days and nights of volunteering during the festival, Zhang Yubo spoke with great enthusiasm. Through conversations with various filmmakers, this young man pushed open the window of his confusion and saw the path ahead.
"Director Yang Lina was very patient with the inquiries from us juniors. From her, I understood the meaning and value of film, which deeply touched me." Looking at photos with the filmmakers, Zhang Yubo recounted the stories that happened during his volunteer service; these stories all shine with a brilliant light called "passion."
The volunteer baton
"I usually like editing short videos and writing short scripts to film interesting things in my life," said Su Xinyu, a girl from Heilongjiang who is also a film enthusiast. Previously, she spent three days writing seven scripts and shot Novel Maniac, earning her the nickname of "wild imagination genius" among her friends.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out, she joined the China Young Volunteers Association. That period allowed her to experience a different sense of the warmth and coldness of the world. This time, she wanted to sign up as a volunteer for the 5th HIIFF. As a freshman majoring in Film and Television Directing, she hopes to contribute her modest efforts to the film and television industry.
"Every time I watch a film, I gain something," Su Xinyu said frankly. She enjoys exchanging insights and reflections on films with others. Every art film of a different style can provide her with creative inspiration. She hopes that through this festival's recruitment, she can get closer to film as she wishes.
(Sanya Daily Reporter Feng Chenyang)
Editor: Li Jingchao
