Recently, the jury of the 2024 Asian Independent Film Festival announced the global shortlist for this year's festival, totaling 26 films. Among them, the debut feature film "Ritchie Sleepless Night" directed by Hong Kong director Din Zi Jyun and the debut short film "The Man in the Birdcage" directed by Chen Yuhui have been selected for the feature and short film competition units respectively. They will compete with films from 35 countries and regions for a total of 10 awards! Both films are exclusively represented for international film festival submissions and overseas distribution by the New Film Circle Global Film Festival Submission and Award Platform.

(Official announcement of "The Man in the Birdcage" being shortlisted)

(Official announcement of "Ritchie Sleepless Night" being shortlisted)

The Asian Independent Film Festival aims to support Asian independent filmmakers in showcasing unique ideas, telling stories from deep within, and inspiring audiences and other independent filmmakers within the industry. As a sister festival to the European Independent Film Festival, which has been held in Paris for20editions, the Asian Independent Film Festival will leverage the good reputation of the European Independent Film Festival within the industry to develop into one of the most influential film festivals globally and attract global audiences to focus on the light of Asian independent film.

New Film Circle Sfilmmaker is the exclusive submission review platform for the Asian Independent Film Festival in China, recommending several Chinese films for selection and awards each year, including "Revenge" directed by Zhou Lingyi, winner of Best Independent Film in 2023, "Seasons of Versions" directed by Lin Zhiyu, winner of Best Experimental Film, and "Annapurna" directed by Zhang Luoping, winner of Best Independent Film in2022. 

Introduction of Shortlisted Films

Film Title: "Ritchie Sleepless Night" (X Kills Me)

Production Company: Kouyi (Shanghai) Cultural Communication Co., Ltd.

Producer: Jixiang

Producer: Xiangdan

Director/Writer: Din Zi Jyun (Hong Kong, China)

Music Director: Wang Zongxian (Nathan Wang)

Director of Photography: Jiang Bo

Art Director: Zhao Nali

Editing Director: Xie Yingying

Recording Director: Jia Xiaojun

Starring: Gao Yuer, Li Zifeng, Dai Jiaoqian

Strategy Consultant: Xiang Huaxiang

International Film Festival Exhibition Consultant: New Circle of Films

Film Subtitle Native Language Proofreading: David James Bell (UK) (New Circle of Films)

International Master Instructor: Daniel Elliot (UK) (New Circle of Films)

Film Synopsis:

Hu Sisi, compelled by life, comes to work as a temporary replacement at the Richie Inn, only to find herself becoming a stand-in for a missing person. The inn holds unspeakable secrets, and as she steps into the inn, a doorbell rings, and the deadly game begins. With the disappearance of former employees, a greedy manager, a selfish doorman, a crazy cleaning lady, a bloodthirsty woman in red, and more, turning up one by one, it seems like turning over cards of fate, hinting at life and death for Hu Sisi. Until she meets the eccentric guest Xu Fei, whom she falls in love with at first sight, can swift love be the way out of love, or is it the end of life?

Film Festival Honors:

2024 - Best International Film at the 19th European Independent Film Festival, France

2024 - Special Mention by the Jury at the New Delhi International Film Festival, India

2024 - Audience Choice Award at the 10th Barcelona Global International Film Festival, Spain

2024 - Septimius Award for Best Asian Film and Best Director Nomination at the Oscars of the Netherlands

2024 - Best Picture Nomination in the Main Competition at the Mexico City International Film Festival

2024 - Best International Film Nomination at the Melbourne Cosmic Image Universe Film Festival, Australia

2024 - Official Selection at the 17th Jaipur International Film Festival, India

2024 - Main Competition Selection at the Asia Independent Film Festival, Award Pending

2024 - Best Emerging Director Award at the 15th Macau International Film Festival

"Sleepless Night of Ritchie"Director's Introduction:

Ding Zijun, a well-known director, actor, professor, playwright, cultural investor, and creative director from Hong Kong, China. He first appeared in director Ann Hui's film "Summer Snow" in 1995 and was nominated for the Best Newcomer Award at the 15th Hong Kong Film Awards.

With over twenty years in the film and television industry, he has appeared in over 50 popular films and TV series, including notable works like "Love in Shanghai," "Just Love," "Myth," "The Loyalty of Yue Fei," "Chinese Style Relationship," and "Wife's Secret," showcasing rich industry experience. He served as the executive producer and starred as Xiao Fengming in the TV series "Phoenix Without Tears," winning the Golden Oak Award for Best Executive Producer and Best Actor at the 3rd American Asian Film & TV Festival.

The movie"Sleepless Night of Ritchie"is his directorial debut feature film.

Film Title: "The Man In The Birdcage" (《鸟笼里的男人》)

Producers: Chen Yuhui, Yan Zhidan

Producer: Chen Yuhui

Directors: Chen Yuhui, Yan Zhidan

Writers: Chen Yuhui, Yan Zhidan

Cinematography: Chen Yuhui, Yan Zhidan

Art: Chen Yuhui, Yan Zhidan

Editing: Yan Zhidan

Music: Yan Zhidan

Starring: Zhang Yingjie

International Film Festival Consultant: New Circle of Film

Synopsis:

A man repeats the same routine day after day, going to work, coming home, and sleeping.

He reads and thinks but is confined by societal norms, living awake but not allowed to truly wake up. He invests his spirit in a caged bird, yearning to become like it, but that bird, no matter how it struggles, cannot fly to its sky.

When his bird dies, so does his spiritual fantasy. He sheds silent tears and continues to repeat the same work day after day.

Honors received at film festivals:

2024 Finalist in the main competition of the All-Asia Independent Film Festival (awaiting awards)

Other film festivals awaiting judging results

"The Man in the Birdcage"Director's Introduction:

Chen Yuhui, a young director and screenwriter, collaborated with CCTV.

Has participated in CCTV programs such as "China Film Directors' Night," "Chinese Film and Television Night," "Liu Qian's Magic Show," and TV series "Three Teams."

Signed a contract with China Civil Aviation Press at the age of eighteen to create "Walking Strong Even When You Can't See the Future."

At the age of nineteen, participated in projects like Hunan Satellite TV's "Super Girl."

In 2024, the director's debut short film "The Man in the Birdcage" was shortlisted in the main competition of the All-Asia Independent Film Festival.

In 2024, the All-Asia Independent Film Festival will be held fromNovember 22 to 24th, rotating host countries each year, with Manila, Philippines hosting last year and this year's event set in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.

New Filmmaker Circle—Officially registered platform for global film festival submissions, currently single-handedly joined by827 international film festivals and invited to face the judging committee for direct recommendations, including official submission permissions from several A-class film festivals. The platform has cooperated with many well-known domestic film institutions and universities such as the Beijing Film Academy, Communication University of China, Bilibili, Tencent Pictures, August First Film Studio, Shandong Film Studio, Sichuan Media College, Yunnan Film Group, Sichuan Emei Film Group, Guangdong TV, Hebei Film Studio, Hubei TV, Hebei Communication University, Hubei Film Studio, Hainan Normal University, China Agricultural Film and Television Center, Netease Cloud Music, and has managed over 2435 Chinese films to win awards at A-class film festivals such as Cannes and Venice, the platform's official website:www.sfilmmaker.com, WeChat for film selection team: joy2587866207, Official Mini ProgramSearch New Filmmaker Circle.