After months of fierce competition and multiple rounds of selection, the final pitch of the 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) NEWHER Feature Film Support Program was successfully held, with 12 shortlisted female-themed projects taking the stage one by one. The finalists compete in the ultimate competition, which ranges from comedy ethics to sci-fi suspense, realistic themes to women's growth. They interpret female strength from various perspectives, welcome every undefined "her" with open arms, discover new possibilities for women's stories, and allow women to shine brighter in the cinematic world.

The final review panel consists of five seasoned industry experts who provide perspectives from across the film industry chain, including production, distribution, and platform operations. The panel includes Xiong Ying, Special Invited Council Member of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development of the Central Propaganda Department; Fu Jia, general manager of Leyi Chengbang Film; Sui Shanshan, Vice President of iQiyi; Li Yan, producer of Laurel Films; and Li Di, head of the production department of Huaxia Film. Additionally, Li Ran, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Office at Beijing Film Academy and Secretary-General of the UNESCO Chair on Cinematic Arts and Cultural Diversity, along with Zhao Ye, Chief Representative of the Blue Helmet Public Benefit Fund of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development of the Central Propaganda Department, served as special guests for the final review. Their extensive experience greatly enhanced the event.

　　

At the Event

　　

　　

Mai Zi, Director of Koi in the Mortal World

Koi in the Mortal World explores survival in a confined space, while Southern Butterfly Path delves into a suspenseful search for a missing mother. Twenty-Nine and Ninety-Nine Cents captures the dilemmas of urban youth navigating love and marriage, and As Snow Veils the Dusk portrays the struggles of middle-aged intellectual women. The 10 script projects and 2 WIP projects shortlisted for the final review all have distinctive styles, covering subject matters such as suspense, family, social reality, and science fiction. They use female and diverse perspectives to interpret women's growth and societal issues. During the pitch session, representatives of the shortlisted projects passionately and eloquently articulated their creative visions, core narratives, and the unique qualities of their films. They aimed to maximize the appeal of their projects within the limited time, leaving a lasting impression on the judges.

　　

Hou Zuxin, Director of The Feast of the Lamb

The final review interaction was both rigorous and infused with warmth. For example, the workplace suspense film The Feast of the Lamb reveals the questioning of human nature and truth behind the film through the director's on-site suspenseful narrative with layers of twists. While the film's compelling plot received unanimous praise, judges noted that "the portrayal of regional settings requires a balance between artistic expression and market acceptance". Meanwhile, the judges praised You Are Going to Die Tonight's audacious creativity, calling it "a masterstroke of conceptual ingenuity", while recommending "enhancing the implementation details of high-concept scenes to reduce investment risks".

At the final review, young creators not only demonstrated their solid professional expertise but also their unwavering faith in film. Among them, director Ren Shujian traveled all the way from Japan to participate in the NEWHER program with his project The Years of the Dandelion. The director could not hide his excitement during the pitch, despite being slightly nervous. The film tells the story of a biracial daughter's struggle for identity within a cross-cultural family, depicting the confusion and perseverance of a wanderer in a foreign country. With heartfelt words, Ren eloquently described the loneliness of living abroad and the sense of fragmentation caused by cultural conflicts. He shared that the film is deeply rooted in his own experiences of living in Japan for over 20 years. The judges were moved by his sincerity, and his presentation prompted thought about "female narratives in a globalized context".

　　

Ren Shujian, Director of The Years of the Dandelion

Although some projects face many challenges, such as limited funds, scarce resources, and lengthy creation cycles, the creators remain committed to their work. They hope to gain more support for their projects through the NEWHER Feature Film Support Program. Throughout the review process, the judges acted as "sculptors", offering constructive feedback from a professional perspective. Their goal was to preserve the creators' creation passions while steering the projects toward more mature and refined outcomes. The team behind the project Blood and Bone admitted, "The judges' questions were like a 'scalpel' - painful but precise."

　　

Zhang Xiaobei, Director of Blood and Bone