A dozen of new films, which will be screened during Chiona's National Day holidays, will attract a host of film-goers. The "Everlasting BJIFF" Series is proud to present a new installment of the Young Filmmaker's Viewing Notes. Directed by Ning Hao and Xu Lei, old friends of the BJIFF, and starred by Ge You and Li Xueqin, The Hutong Cowboy will be screened in theaters on October 1.

Young Filmmaker's Viewing Notes on The Hutong Cowboy

During the early promotion campaign, director Ning Hao pointed out the biggest difference between The Hutong Cowboy and his previous films: "It's about the trivial life stories of lovely people around us, which is a bit different from that kind of films with macro storylines I directed before." Director Ning Hao has always aspired to calmly deliver a sitcom. This film tells the story of how Zhang Beijing, a senior hutong owner (played by Ge You), becomes an overnight success on the Internet following an unexpected encounter with a Beijing drifter Xiaoqin (played by Li Xueqin). What kind of surprises and absurdities will be created when the age-old local Beijing grandpa meets the young online influencer? In addition, this film features starring roles like Yang Haoyu, Sang Ping, Liu Mintao and Wei Xiao, special roles like Wu Lei and Jia Bing, as well as special guest stars Gong Beibi, Zhang Zixian and Jin Guangfa. This humorous and heartwarming film adds festive atmosphere, making it a must-have for families during the National Day celebrations.

The cast of The Hutong Cowboy

　This film involves not only Chinese famous comedians, but also the impressive director lineup. This is director Ning Hao's first co-directed film in collaboration with young director Xu Lei. The two directors are old friends of the BJIFF. As the chairman of the Final Jury for Project Pitches of the 8th BJIFF, director Ning Hao with his keen insight and unique aesthetics offered invaluable instructions and tips for the pitched projects at that time.

The Hutong Cowboy Director Ning Hao

Director Xu Lei and his film Summer Detective received recognition and assistance from the Final Jury for Project Pitches of the 9th BJIFF. This film was quickly screened in the same year, getting huge ovations from industry insiders and audiences alike. Some viewers hailed it as "a vibrant yet humorous film" and "a pioneering film genre that has never been seen before in China." In 2023, Xu Lei directed the 13th BJIFF's theme short film Big Order in Spring. With his light-hearted and lively creativity, he demonstrated the BJIFF's sharp innovation and dynamism. In 2024, Director Xu Lei made his return to the BJIFF in a new capacity - Second-Round Jury Member for Project Pitches of the 13th BJIFF. By incorporating his years of growing experience and unique directing perspective into the judging process, he offered professional advice and guidance to young filmmakers.

The Hutong Cowboy Director Xu Lei

The collaboration between the two directors will bring a high-quality The Hutong Cowboy to the viewers. With the witty mix of "iconic Ning Hao comedy" and "iconic Xu Lei humor," the two directors are destined to add a fresh touch of fun to Zhang Beijing's journey as a good guy. The collaboration between the two directors is even more meaningful in the context of the BJIFF. They have not only delivered a high-quality film to the audience, but also boosted the confidence of young filmmakers in their career. The event invited 20 young filmmakers who had participated in the BJIFF Project Pitches to the premiere, in order to support their first-time collaboration and to achieve spiritual friendship between the young filmmakers and two old friends of the BJIFF Project Pitches through the film.

Group photo for the viewing of The Hutong Cowboy