Do it my way

Huang Aiyi, a 30-year-old director from Foshan, Guangdong province, sparked intense discussion among the judges with her pitch for Washing Machines' Guide to the Supreme, a sci-fi film project praised for its bold imagination and deep philosophical undertones.

"The female protagonist refuses salvation from a higher civilization at the edge of the universe and chooses to keep wandering. In doing so, she's rejecting a utilitarian worldview — one that values only the survival of the fittest," Huang explained. "I wanted to explore the emotional dilemmas young people are grappling with today."

With this film, Huang aims to push the boundaries of commercial genre film-making. "There aren't many sci-fi films with female protagonists, either in China or abroad. But movies like Arrival and Everything Everywhere All at Once have really inspired me," she said. "My film may not be explicitly labeled as 'female-themed', but at the very least, the main character is a woman."

"I'm very pleased to see more young creators embracing female perspectives in recent years. I believe this emerging trend is a great sign for the industry," she added.

However, turning imagination into reality comes with many practical challenges.

As a graduate of the School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China, Huang acknowledges that breaking into directing without a formal film school background is "a high bar to clear".

"The film industry is like a walled city," she explained. "Getting in takes connections and access to resources."

Joining Next Frame Space proved to be a turning point for her. After her pitch, more than a dozen companies reached out, which made her truly appreciate the event's value as a platform.

"I've always been a screenwriter, quietly hoping to direct but never really getting noticed. After being shortlisted at the event, I think people in the industry started seeing me as a potential director," she said. "Exposure itself is an opportunity."

The feedback from the judges was invaluable. Xu Yuet-jan, a renowned Hong Kong film producer, encouraged Huang to "shoot a sample to prove it's doable".

Advice from acclaimed screenwriter Zhang Ji also gave her confidence. "He helped me understand the importance of sticking to what I want, even when different investors have different opinions," Huang said. "I'm not trying to sell this project — I want it to be made my way."