The announcement of the lineup of Final Jury for Project Pitches at the 14th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) brings director-producer Derek Tsang from Hong Kong, China into the fold. His involvement aims to support the selection of outstanding projects and enable the growth of more China's stories by virtue of the BJIFF platform.

Among the cohort of next-generation directors who seamlessly blend commercial success with artistic excellence, Derek Tsang is celebrated for his distinctive and nuanced filmmaking style. Known for his adeptness in capturing societal issues and phenomena, Derek delves into intricate interpersonal dynamics and emotional connections.

In terms of genre and style, Derek excels in portraying the fluid dynamics of emotions between young men and women. His inclusive approach to storytelling demonstrates a genuine concern for individual value. In 2016, Derek's acclaimed film SoulMate premiered, leaving a successful mark as a youth novel adaptation in the Chinese mainland film market, and it garnered widespread praise from audiences. This film led to multiple Best Actress nominations for both Zhou Dongyu and Ma Sichun at film festivals, securing 11 nominations at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards and 4 nominations at the 31st Golden Rooster Awards, among other honors.

　　Still of SoulMate

In navigating the Chinese mainland market, Derek needs to handle storylines that extend beyond his own lived experiences. It is precisely for this reason that his narrative perspective is characterized by a calm and restrained style. In the film Better Days, Derek not only examines the collective struggles of students under the pressure of college entrance exams and the issue of bullying but also highlights the overarching theme of adolescents confronting the adult world. By transcending the boundaries of a traditional youth-centric narrative, the film delivers unexpected surprises and delights to viewers. To truly capture the essence of the story, Derek took the cast and crew to an examination venue prior to filming. They mimicked the routines of students and closely observed their behavior outside the exam rooms, striving to recreate the authentic tension of college entrance exams. Upon its release in 2019, Better Days caused a stir on the Internet and claimed the top spot on the Chinese mainland's youth film box office rankings with a staggering 1.5 billion yuan in ticket sales. Alongside its success with audiences and in the market, the film walked away with an impressive eight awards at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best New Performer. Not only that, the film also made waves internationally, being nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards and chosen for the Generation 14plus section of the 69th Berlin International Film Festival.

　　Still of Better Days

It is worth mentioning that Derek Tsang does not come from a filmmaking educational background. In fact, he pursued studies in sociology at the University of Toronto. For a film creator, possessing knowledge and experiences beyond their field allows for a unique perspective on things, which in turn influences their visual storytelling and character development. "Growth" constitutes a central theme in his body of work, with each creation delving into a deeper exploration of this theme. In SoulMate, the complex romantic relationships among three young individuals do not descend into clichés and melodrama. Instead, Derek employs these relationships to showcase how two contrasting girls rely on each other to achieve spiritual symbiosis and personal growth. And in Better Days, two young outsiders strive to resist the complexities of the world and break free from the oppressive forces of reality, all in a bid to achieve personal growth.

This year marks Director Derek Tsang's debut at the BJIFF. Let us anticipate the sparks that will fly as he engages with the festival, as we believe he will utilize his wealth of industry experience and inclusive attitude to offer the utmost assistance to the filmmakers selected for Project Pitches.