Shining a light on the young filmmakers of tomorrow

From the Lumiere brothers' first screening of Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station in a Paris cafe on Jan 25, 1896, to today's ever-evolving cinematic landscape, debut films have remained the beating heart of innovation in cinema.

These first-time directorial efforts, often raw and fearless, embody the passion and ambition of emerging storytellers. Last Saturday evening, this spirit was vividly celebrated at the 32nd College Student Film Festival's Youth Night honors ceremony.

Broadcast live on Beijing Satellite TV, Beijing Time, and Tencent Video, the ceremony was held at the Beijing Comedy Theater and brought together leading figures from the film industry, scholars, and a vibrant community of young film enthusiasts.

Among the night's most anticipated announcements was Most Popular Debut Film of the Year, an accolade voted for by university students across the country.

When the winner was finally revealed, Gone With the Boat emerged as the standout, claiming the coveted title. The film impressed both viewers and critics with its innovative narrative style and compassionate portrayal of family bonds, marking director Chen Xiaoyu as a promising new voice in Chinese cinema.

Gone With the Boat is the deeply emotional story of an elderly woman diagnosed with a brain tumor. As her adult children clash over how best to care for her, they eventually return to their hometown to accompany her through her final days.

The story is rooted in personal experience — Chen said that the character of the elderly woman was inspired by his own grandmother.

"I was raised by my grandmother in Xinqiao village, a water town along the Grand Canal in Jiangnan (the region south of the Yangtze River)," he said. "This film is my way of remembering her and the home that shaped me."

The project was a labor of love, beginning in 2019 and evolving over six years and 32 drafts before achieving its final form.

Made on a modest budget of under 2 million yuan ($276,800), the film debuted in April last year and quickly began earning accolades, including Best Screenwriter at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival's Asian New Talent section of Golden Goblet Awards, and Best New Director at the 10th Silk Road International Film Festival.

Actress Tian Hairong, who presented the award, reflected on the significance of debut films. "Every directorial debut is both a proving ground for ambition and a birthplace of talent. These works are more than just introductions — they are seeds, planted with the resolve to grow and the passion to speak through light and shadow."

Chen acknowledged the honor with heartfelt gratitude, thanking his entire crew and singling out late Tibetan director Pema Tseden for his guidance and encouragement.

"His mentorship means the world to me," said Chen. "I see Gone With the Boat as just the beginning. Like those before me, I'll continue to defend my creative path with natural language and instinctive passion."

As part of the Beijing International Film Festival, the College Student Film Festival is a platform for emerging filmmakers from universities in China and abroad, and celebrates student-driven creativity and original storytelling.

This year's festival saw enthusiastic participation from over 100 domestic and international universities. More than 3,000 entries were submitted — including scripts, films, and critiques — culminating in 152 award-winning entries.

In addition to Gone With the Boat, several other honors were given out during the ceremony. The Most Popular Film of the Year award went to Her Story, while Ge You won Most Popular Actor for his performance in The Hedgehog, the fifth time the veteran actor has received the title. Yong Mei and Zhang Zifeng shared the Most Popular Actress award, which celebrates both experience and emerging talent.

As Chinese cinema evolves, festivals like the College Student Film Festival highlight the power of fresh perspectives. Debut films continue to drive the industry forward, infusing new life into storytelling.

Through work like Gone With the Boat, the next generation of filmmakers isn't just ready — they're already shaping the future.