Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

The conclusion of the 5th Pingtan In Moments (IM) Film Festival on Sunday provided a vivid snapshot of the growing dynamism and interactivity between young filmmakers from the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan. This year, the festival's honors were decided under the discerning eye of jury president Chen Chong, a renowned Chinese actress with five decades in the industry. Her reflections on the event captured its spirit: "Everyone is making the films they truly want to make. In the blaze of their enthusiasm, I am willing to be a piece of wood to make the fire burn brighter." 

These words not only acknowledge the creative drive of these young directors but also affirm the festival's role as a catalyst for inspiration and exchange.

For many filmmakers from ­Taiwan island, the trip to Pingtan in East ­China's Fujian Province was far more than a competition; it was an immersion into a mainland film scene brimming with energy, openness, and resources. Through in-depth discussions and shared creative experiences with their peers in the Chinese mainland, they found themselves inspired by the diversity of stories and the collaborative atmosphere. The hope for more opportunities to work together in the future was a common refrain, as they recognized the value of cross-Straits cultural fertilization in their work.

Perhaps the most striking aspect at this year's festival was the youthful energy of its participants. The main competition's directors averaged just 24 years of age, underscoring a dramatic emergence of Generation Z voices. According to festival founder Hong Lei, over the past five years the IM festival has received more than 500 film submissions from over 30 universities in Taiwan, covering nearly all film programs on the island. As Hong told the Global Times, "For filmmakers, exchanging ideas and sparking inspiration through collaboration is crucial. Our community of young creators is steadily growing, and Chinese cinema has achieved remarkable progress in recent years. Filmmakers from the island have witnessed the richness of themes being explored on the mainland, and they hope their own works can reach larger audiences."

Among the returning participants was Andy Cheng, a 32-year-old director from Taiwan, who described the experience as uniquely enriching. He found himself in easy dialogue with Chinese mainland filmmakers of similar age, many of whom create films centered on folk traditions or minority cultures - perspectives rarely represented in the cinema of Taiwan. For Cheng, both the literary quality and visual style of these works offered valuable points of reference. 

Young filmmakers from the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan communicate with actor Chris Wu from Taiwan at the 5th Pingtan In Moments Film Festival. Photo: Courtesy of the organizing committee of the film festival

The process of exchanging ideas became a journey of broadening horizons, and he described the mutual openness and respect as central to the festival's success. Cheng's passion for northern Chinese cities, from exploring the Forbidden City in Beijing to enjoying local delicacies, extended to his cinematic interests as well. He expressed a strong desire to collaborate with directors from regions like Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region or Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, saying that these cross-regional partnerships could yield works both unique and harmonious.

This year, the festival's "72-Hour Extreme Shoot" was a special highlight. Of the 15 teams in this creative challenge, several mainland university teams included students in Taiwan. These young filmmakers, hailing from both sides of the Straits, roamed Pingtan's rocky coastlines, fishing villages, and bustling streets, seeking inspiration under the theme "Island · Eye." The event's format - intense, hands-on, and collaborative - exemplified the deepening involvement and integration of creators from Taiwan within the festival.

Chang Chaowei, a veteran documentary director in Taiwan who has led film workshops at IM since its second edition, was gratified to witness this expanding cross-Straits engagement. This year, master editor Chen Bowen, whose credits include icons like Yi Yi and A Brighter Summer Day, gave lectures to packed halls of young filmmakers. For Chang, the sight of so many eager faces hungry for knowledge was a clear sign that a new era of cooperation was taking root. The filmmaking styles that creators in the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are good at, he said, offer strengths that the others can learn from. Chang also said he hopes to see more top mainland films screened in Taiwan, further enriching the dialogue.

Industry figures like Chang and Hong Lei hold high hopes for this new generation of cross-Straits filmmakers. They praised the international outlook and technological fluency of today's youth, but also stressed the importance of real-world experience. Platforms like the IM Film Festival are therefore indispensable, not just as venues for conversation, but as laboratories for creativity where ideas can be put into practice and developed through collective effort. As Hong noted, true exchange is deepened through joint creation and direct engagement with audiences, not just through talk. He is an advocate for more co-productions, seeing these as the best way for young filmmakers to move from self-expression to broader social impact.

As the awards ceremony drew to a close, several young creators took the stage and voiced a commitment that resonated throughout the festival: "With our passion and sincerity, we will keep making films!" Their words captured a direction of Chinese film - one in which youthful energy, cross-Straits understanding, and shared ambition are forging a brighter future, together.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn