Ham on Rye
On December 8, the fifth day of the film festival, the opening film for the day's post-screening event, Ham on Rye, also comes from "Focus: Omnes Films." The film is the feature debut directed by group member Carson Lund, who previously served as the director of photography for films such as Tyler Taormina's Ham on Rye. Ham on Rye is a baseball-themed film set in a stadium in New England that is about to be demolished. The film follows an amateur baseball game from early morning to dusk; it is not merely a game, but the team's final stand on this ground that has witnessed countless moments of passion and cheers. Through exquisite cinematography, the film portrays the end of a specific rural, masculine world in America.
During the post-screening Q&A, Lund specifically mentioned the reason for focusing on "baseball": in the United States, the sport of baseball carries a certain "existential crisis," which corresponds to the confusion and sense of nihilism the characters face in their respective lives, while the demolition of the stadium in the film simultaneously serves as a metaphor for the decline of a suburban culture. He also shared the touching connection between the film's creation and his personal life. He and the co-screenwriter Michael Basta were born in the same small town, both grew up in the 1990s, and often spent their childhoods hanging out in suburban parks. Making this film is also their affectionate look back at that time, hoping to evoke the audience's attention to emotional interactions between people.
Golden Coconut Awards Short Film Compilation 1
The Golden Coconut Awards short film compilation screened today presented multiple outstanding works to the audience, including Fence, Forest Covered by Asphalt, Ultraviolet, Murmur of August, and Poems of Timeless Acclaim. During the post-screening Q&A, the creators engaged in in-depth interactions with the audience, sharing the creative inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories of each work, and the atmosphere was enthusiastic.
It is worth mentioning that the last short film of this screening, Poems of Timeless Acclaim, is the first animated film in China produced using text-to-video AI technology. During the post-screening Q&A, the lead creator Tan Yiyong mentioned the profound impact of artificial intelligence technology on animated film production. He stated that the introduction of AI is changing the process and form of animation creation, providing creators with entirely new tools and possibilities.
She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones
Also noteworthy is the feature-length narrative film She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones, directed by Chinese youth director Qu Youjia, which focuses on the youthful affections and coming-of-age reflections between high school seniors Zhuang Zhou and Meng Ke. After the screening, director Qu Youjia, lead actors Zhang Taiwen and Miao Jijun, and producer Xie Meng were present for the Q&A. The director shared that the film's creative inspiration came from his own adolescent experiences; he regarded the two distinctly different characters, Zhuang Zhou and Meng Ke, as different parts manifested from within himself, and creating this film was one of the ways he confronted his own personal dilemmas.
During the interactive session, an audience member from Nanjing, Jiangsu, broke down in tears while expressing her viewing experience. She mentioned that she is the mother of a 13-year-old boy and deeply felt the delicate emotional flow of the adolescent youths during the film, using this moment to express her gratitude to the creative team. In addition, the film's female lead Miao Jijun also shared her genuine feelings during the performance, mentioning that it was actually a "rather painful process" because she had to constantly pull herself back to her own youth to feel the growing pains again alongside the protagonists, which the audience deeply resonated with.
Regrettably at Dawn
Regrettably at Dawn is a film of considerable emotional depth, revealing the complex connections between the past, present, and future. Set against the backdrop of the Thai countryside, the film uncovers the trauma of war and the irreversibility of life through the daily routine of a veteran named A Yong. A Yong's life appears simple, yet it harbors profound meaning. Using natural tranquility and delicate human emotions, the director depicts a story about confronting pain and the cycle of life. During the post-screening Q&A, the film's director Silvarat Konsakoo attended in person and shared the creative journey behind the film, and his remarks received high praise from the audience.
Who Cares
The Golden Coconut Awards-nominated feature-length documentary Who Cares, directed by Alexe Poukine, also held its post-screening event today, with the director himself present for a conversation with the audience. The film focuses on the various challenges faced by medical staff under heavy pressure within an increasingly liberalized healthcare system.
During the post-screening Q&A, Alexe Poukine addressed the issue of protecting the rights of medical workers, while also offering sincere encouragement to those who are still young and passionate.
HIIFF Open-Air Screenings
Today's open-air screenings continued the excitement of the previous day, presenting six films from the Women's Chapter, ASEAN Film Showcase, and Special Screenings sections at various locations including the Kangnian Hotel, Luhuitou Scenic Area, and Summer Station. These included three films directed by Feng Xiaogang: The Dream Factory, Be There or Be Square, and Big Shot's Funeral, leading the audience to revisit Chinese stories from over twenty years ago. Also included was the Chinese animated film classic The Monkey King, allowing film fans to once again experience the creative charm of Shanghai Animation Film Studio under the island's starry sky. In addition, two emerging foreign-language films, My Whole Life and Amin: Anak Cinta Ilmu, from France and Indonesia respectively, brought unique international perspectives to the audience.
