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About Us


filMarathon was initially launched in Shanghai back in 2018. 2023 marks filMarathon’s 6th anniversary. We have accompanied more than 3,000 college and high school students during their journey to grow and become a part of the Film & TV production industry.

Besides providing film amateurs with first-hand learning and practicing opportunities, we also hope to build a social platform for upcoming filmmakers to explore, connect and collaborate.

    Our Approach:

  • Intensive 48-hour short film production competition
  • Pre-competition theoretical and practical training workshops
  • Post-competition screenings in cinema and Q&A sessions

  • Our Mission: to break the barrier between

  • Students in Film & TV major and other majors
  • Students from domestic universities and other countries
  • Students and practitioners of the Film & TV industry

Award-winning films

You can watch each award-winning film by clicking on the title
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Judges & Mentors

Biography

Zhirong Chang

Zhirong Chang is the columnist at Zhihu website and she was awarded the “华语新声” science fiction novel award. Zhirong published sci-fi collections “她的世界线” and “地狱来客”. Her commentary was featured on various magazines.

Scandar Copti

Scandar is a Palestinian filmmaker whose debut feature film "Ajami" won the Camera d'Or Special Mention and was nominated for the 82nd Academy Awards. He was also part of the team that launched the Doha Film Institute where he headed the Education Department and taught screenwriting, directing, and working with non-actors.

Yirou He

Yirou He is the screenwriter and development researcher for animation films “美人鱼”, “山海经之南歌子”, and the live action film “超级莫莉”.

Danni Hu-Yang

Danni is a poet, script writer and performing artist. Danni has performed at Judson Memorial Church and Dixon Place in New York. Danni hosts workshops across communities on the topics of freewriting, improvisations in performance , research in body language, and queer culture.

Hua An

Hua An graduated from Columbia University and served as a marketing research specialist at Alibaba. Hua An is the director and scriptwriter for “零度可乐碎了” which was selected for Wuzhen Theatre Festival. Hua is also the English scriptwriter for the off-broadway musical Pear Garden Opera House.

Chao Huang

CTO at ComeFilm, Chao has extensive experience in providing technical support for various brands including RED, Canon, Sony, ATOMOS, etc. He is also a distinguished MOVCAM lecturer and has been working in the film and television industry for over a decade. Chao graduated from Beijing Film Academy and has delivered professional filming consultations for numerous teams.

Yue Huang

Yue Huang is the Programming Co-Director of the New York CinaCina Film Festival, and the film commentator at 深焦 (Deep Focus) and other film media platforms. Yue graduated from Yale University and established Shanghai La Fonte Cultural Center.

Zi Huang

Zi was admitted to New York University Tisch School of Art for film production, but decided to quit in his first year of graduate school. His short film "The Other Shore" was selected for Angers Film Festival in France and Beijing Independent Film Festival, among others. His debut feature film "Xiaowei" (previously known as "Muling, Yiming, Weiming") won the Jury Prize at FIRST Youth Film Festival.

Xingchen Lin

Xingchen Lin graduated from Tsinghua University and Shanghai Vancouver Film School. His directing credits include drama shorts “流浪” and “深海孤独”. His projects have entered Beijing College Student Film Festival and Russia’s ’s Realist Web Festival.

Ling Ling

Ling Ling graduated from Berklee College of Music and established the original musical incubation team “Grizz Fluffden Studios”. She leads an initiative of the original musical “李清照” which entered the Shanghai Grand Theater Incubation Program.

Ying Liu

Ying is the co-founder of DeepFocus, a film-focused media platform, and the head of PARALLAX Films, an international film sales and distribution brand. She was involved in the production and international distribution of "A New Old Play" and "Wisdom Tooth". In 2018, the film that Ying represents, “Vanishing Days," was shortlisted for the New Wave Competition at the Busan Film Festival and also selected for the Berlin Film Festival and other international film festivals.

Chen Lu

Chen’s short film “Ash” was showcased at international film festivals including the New Era Youth Film Festival. He serves as both the director and cinematographer, and has collaborated with brands such as Disney, Xiaomi, Rado, GAP, and Bilibili.

Lu Di

Lu Di served as DNEG’s special effects director and participated in Oscar winning films Interstellar and The Jungle Book. Lu is the Chair of the 3D Animation and Special Effect Program at Shanghai Vancouver Film School and a lecturer at the University of Southern California and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Rhyme Lu

Rhyme Lu was an applied mathematics major at Brown University and graduated from AFI. As a director, a Chinese international storyteller, a hip-hop and urban dancer and a street fashion hyper, he draws inspirations from the modern and the traditional, from the east and the west. Truth, courage, distance and vulnerability is what he rhymes with.

Justin Scholar

Justin Scholar 玉刻 is a video producer from New York, alumni of New York University Tisch School of the Arts, and is currently living in Chengdu as an artist-in-residence.

Yuqi Shi

Yuqi Shi is the headteacher of Shanghai Theater Acedemy’s acting postgraduate program. She is also a directing and acting teacher at Shanghai Dong Fang Culture and Art Academy. She is an actor, director, and writer with 7 years of acting teaching experience.

Lin Tu

Lin graduated from Peking University and Northwestern University. Her latest short film, "Canker," was selected and supported by “One” Short Film Project for Women Directors and then selected for the Cannes Film Festival's Leitz Cine Discovery Prize. Her feature film project, "Su Li," was selected for Shanghai International Film Festival and other pitch competitions.

Wen Chen

Wen Chen graduated from Chicago University. She is currently the film consultant for Illumination Entertainment and a member of the Shanghai Linguistic Association. She formerly served as a Television host at Shanghai Television.

Mengyu Wu

Mengyu Wu is an independent illustrator. His works can be seen in magazines including GQ and ELLE. He was commissioned by CineCina Film Festival to design the main visual poster for Lou Ye’s retrospective program. Wu is also a member of the audience judy member at the Pingyao International Film Festival.

Hao Xia

Hao Xia graduated from Beijing Film Academy. His past works include “女他”, “艺术死了”, “特警队”, “怒水西流”. His works have entered the Shanghai International Film Festival, FIRST International Film Festival, and Montreal World Film Festival.

Ru Yang

Ru Yang graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She developed and produced many shorts and feature films and received the “Chinese Story” award from the Golden Rooster Film Festival’s first project promotion intervention.

Xiaodong Zhang

Xiaodong Zhang is the producer for drama films “上海故事”, “基金经理”, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s 120th anniversary documentary “上下铺”.

Xuan Zhang

As the founder of [voice_over_], a film-focused media channel, Xuan has also established a screening label in South Korea, concentrating on showcasing and exchanging art works of young Chinese and Korean filmmakers. As a producer, she has produced numerous award-winning short films. Her recognized works have been selected for film festivals throughout Asia.

Yunyi Zhang

Graduated from Fudan University with a BA in Chinese literature, Yunyi has been working in the screenwriting industry. She is one of the writers of the TV series "My Heroic Husband". Besides producing her own works, Yunyi aims to guide students interested in screenwriting to find their path in the industry.

Yuyu Zhang

An international actor and director, Yuyu was formerly a member of Suzuki Toga SCOT Troupe. She holds a MFA in Theater Performance from Columbia University. She has finished training at the Royal Academy of Drama, and explored the Suzuki method of actor training, and the Lucid Body acting techniques.

Zhuang Zi

Zhuang Zi is a popular video blogger with 160,000+ fans on Bilibili and his videos have been viewed more than 15 million times across the network. With four years of experience of creating short and medium-length videos for the internet, Zhuang Zi is well known for low-budget video production, as well as self-editing, directing, acting, and video editing.

Sabrina Zhao

Sabrina Zhao holds a B.A. from New York University Abu Dhabi, and a MFA from York University. Her first feature film "The Good Woman of Sichuan" has been shortlisted to screen at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival Forum section, MoMA Doc Fortnight, and Copenhagen International Documentary Festival.

Hao Zheng

Hao Zheng was recently named as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in 2021. He graduated from AFI and Emerson College and made short films with international recognitions including the Student Academy Award among more than 100 film festivals. ​He is now selected as a 2020 Disney Launchpad Director and a 2020 HBOAccess Directing Program Fellow.

Yayu Zheng

Yayu Zheng is currently a PHD candidate at South California University and a commentator at 深焦 (Deep Focus), "澎湃", and other media platforms.

Xin Zhu

Xin Zhu graduated from China Academy of Art. His directing credits include drama films such as “漫游”, and his projects were selected for Berlin International Film Festival International Forum of New Cinema, Hong Kong International Film Festival Young Cinema Competition, and many other festivals.

Zhirong Chang

Zhirong Chang is the columnist at Zhihu website and she was awarded the “华语新声” science fiction novel award. Zhirong published sci-fi collections “她的世界线” and “地狱来客”. Her commentary was featured on various magazines.

Scandar Copti

Scandar is a Palestinian filmmaker whose debut feature film "Ajami" won the Camera d'Or Special Mention and was nominated for the 82nd Academy Awards. He was also part of the team that launched the Doha Film Institute where he headed the Education Department and taught screenwriting, directing, and working with non-actors.

Yirou He

Yirou He is the screenwriter and development researcher for animation films “美人鱼”, “山海经之南歌子”, and the live action film “超级莫莉”.

Danni Hu-Yang

Danni is a poet, script writer and performing artist. Danni has performed at Judson Memorial Church and Dixon Place in New York. Danni hosts workshops across communities on the topics of freewriting, improvisations in performance , research in body language, and queer culture.

Hua An

Hua An graduated from Columbia University and served as a marketing research specialist at Alibaba. Hua An is the director and scriptwriter for “零度可乐碎了” which was selected for Wuzhen Theatre Festival. Hua is also the English scriptwriter for the off-broadway musical Pear Garden Opera House.

Chao Huang

CTO at ComeFilm, Chao has extensive experience in providing technical support for various brands including RED, Canon, Sony, ATOMOS, etc. He is also a distinguished MOVCAM lecturer and has been working in the film and television industry for over a decade. Chao graduated from Beijing Film Academy and has delivered professional filming consultations for numerous teams.

Yue Huang

Yue Huang is the Programming Co-Director of the New York CinaCina Film Festival, and the film commentator at 深焦 (Deep Focus) and other film media platforms. Yue graduated from Yale University and established Shanghai La Fonte Cultural Center.

Zi Huang

Zi was admitted to New York University Tisch School of Art for film production, but decided to quit in his first year of graduate school. His short film "The Other Shore" was selected for Angers Film Festival in France and Beijing Independent Film Festival, among others. His debut feature film "Xiaowei" (previously known as "Muling, Yiming, Weiming") won the Jury Prize at FIRST Youth Film Festival.

Xingchen Lin

Xingchen Lin graduated from Tsinghua University and Shanghai Vancouver Film School. His directing credits include drama shorts “流浪” and “深海孤独”. His projects have entered Beijing College Student Film Festival and Russia’s ’s Realist Web Festival.

Ling Ling

Ling Ling graduated from Berklee College of Music and established the original musical incubation team “Grizz Fluffden Studios”. She leads an initiative of the original musical “李清照” which entered the Shanghai Grand Theater Incubation Program.

Ying Liu

Ying is the co-founder of DeepFocus, a film-focused media platform, and the head of PARALLAX Films, an international film sales and distribution brand. She was involved in the production and international distribution of "A New Old Play" and "Wisdom Tooth". In 2018, the film that Ying represents, “Vanishing Days," was shortlisted for the New Wave Competition at the Busan Film Festival and also selected for the Berlin Film Festival and other international film festivals.

Chen Lu

Chen’s short film “Ash” was showcased at international film festivals including the New Era Youth Film Festival. He serves as both the director and cinematographer, and has collaborated with brands such as Disney, Xiaomi, Rado, GAP, and Bilibili.

Lu Di

Lu Di served as DNEG’s special effects director and participated in Oscar winning films Interstellar and The Jungle Book. Lu is the Chair of the 3D Animation and Special Effect Program at Shanghai Vancouver Film School and a lecturer at the University of Southern California and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Rhyme Lu

Rhyme Lu was an applied mathematics major at Brown University and graduated from AFI. As a director, a Chinese international storyteller, a hip-hop and urban dancer and a street fashion hyper, he draws inspirations from the modern and the traditional, from the east and the west. Truth, courage, distance and vulnerability is what he rhymes with.

Justin Scholar

Justin Scholar 玉刻 is a video producer from New York, alumni of New York University Tisch School of the Arts, and is currently living in Chengdu as an artist-in-residence.

Yuqi Shi

Yuqi Shi is the headteacher of Shanghai Theater Acedemy’s acting postgraduate program. She is also a directing and acting teacher at Shanghai Dong Fang Culture and Art Academy. She is an actor, director, and writer with 7 years of acting teaching experience.

Lin Tu

Lin graduated from Peking University and Northwestern University. Her latest short film, "Canker," was selected and supported by “One” Short Film Project for Women Directors and then selected for the Cannes Film Festival's Leitz Cine Discovery Prize. Her feature film project, "Su Li," was selected for Shanghai International Film Festival and other pitch competitions.

Wen Chen

Wen Chen graduated from Chicago University. She is currently the film consultant for Illumination Entertainment and a member of the Shanghai Linguistic Association. She formerly served as a Television host at Shanghai Television.

Mengyu Wu

Mengyu Wu is an independent illustrator. His works can be seen in magazines including GQ and ELLE. He was commissioned by CineCina Film Festival to design the main visual poster for Lou Ye’s retrospective program. Wu is also a member of the audience judy member at the Pingyao International Film Festival.

Hao Xia

Hao Xia graduated from Beijing Film Academy. His past works include “女他”, “艺术死了”, “特警队”, “怒水西流”. His works have entered the Shanghai International Film Festival, FIRST International Film Festival, and Montreal World Film Festival.

Ru Yang

Ru Yang graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She developed and produced many shorts and feature films and received the “Chinese Story” award from the Golden Rooster Film Festival’s first project promotion intervention.

Xiaodong Zhang

Xiaodong Zhang is the producer for drama films “上海故事”, “基金经理”, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s 120th anniversary documentary “上下铺”.

Xuan Zhang

As the founder of [voice_over_], a film-focused media channel, Xuan has also established a screening label in South Korea, concentrating on showcasing and exchanging art works of young Chinese and Korean filmmakers. As a producer, she has produced numerous award-winning short films. Her recognized works have been selected for film festivals throughout Asia.

Yunyi Zhang

Graduated from Fudan University with a BA in Chinese literature, Yunyi has been working in the screenwriting industry. She is one of the writers of the TV series "My Heroic Husband". Besides producing her own works, Yunyi aims to guide students interested in screenwriting to find their path in the industry.

Yuyu Zhang

An international actor and director, Yuyu was formerly a member of Suzuki Toga SCOT Troupe. She holds a MFA in Theater Performance from Columbia University. She has finished training at the Royal Academy of Drama, and explored the Suzuki method of actor training, and the Lucid Body acting techniques.

Zhuang Zi

Zhuang Zi is a popular video blogger with 160,000+ fans on Bilibili and his videos have been viewed more than 15 million times across the network. With four years of experience of creating short and medium-length videos for the internet, Zhuang Zi is well known for low-budget video production, as well as self-editing, directing, acting, and video editing.

Sabrina Zhao

Sabrina Zhao holds a B.A. from New York University Abu Dhabi, and a MFA from York University. Her first feature film "The Good Woman of Sichuan" has been shortlisted to screen at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival Forum section, MoMA Doc Fortnight, and Copenhagen International Documentary Festival.

Hao Zheng

Hao Zheng was recently named as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in 2021. He graduated from AFI and Emerson College and made short films with international recognitions including the Student Academy Award among more than 100 film festivals. ​He is now selected as a 2020 Disney Launchpad Director and a 2020 HBOAccess Directing Program Fellow.

Yayu Zheng

Yayu Zheng is currently a PHD candidate at South California University and a commentator at 深焦 (Deep Focus), "澎湃", and other media platforms.

Xin Zhu

Xin Zhu graduated from China Academy of Art. His directing credits include drama films such as “漫游”, and his projects were selected for Berlin International Film Festival International Forum of New Cinema, Hong Kong International Film Festival Young Cinema Competition, and many other festivals.

Participants

Our participants for the past 4 years are from over 280+ domestic and international universities, high schools and middle schools:
  • Domestic and international university students majored in Film & TV
  • Film lovers from over 40+ different other majors at renowned domestic and international universities
  • Middle school and high school students interested in exploring their interests

The 48-hour filMarathon is a competition that makes my heart pound just at the thought of it! Instead of a competition, I’d rather say it's an amazing journey with a group of people who share the same passion. It’s a journey where we spend time together sharing our unique perspectives, while craving precious sleeping time.

--- Rence

This is truly an event that you will never regret attending. I saw many talented people, got introduced to interesting ideas, and listened to thought-provoking questions. I really felt that all kinds of ideas were encouraged, discussed, and generated through this event. I was really touched by the enthusiasm and genuity of the participants and the sincerity and thoughtfulness of the organizers.

--- Lijun Xiao

I was amazed at the final viewing event — there really were a lot of great projects! Each group had a different theme that they wanted to explore, and they all expressed their themes in their unique ways! Each viewer has their own understanding after watching the films. Yet upon learning the creative concept and the process behind the films, each of us gains more nuanced understanding of the films.

--- Yiqing

What an amazing experience it is to spend 48 hours of nightless days with teammates that I never met before. It was the first time we all tried to shoot a complete short film: six people helped each other through the script writing, storyboarding, shooting, acting on camera, and editing, each of which was a first time in forever. It was definitely a memory that will last a lifetime.

--- Camélia

History of filMarathon

2100+ Participants

445 Projects

42 Masterclasses

26 Screenings

Season 1

2018

DEBUT

We set up a new Wechat account and sent out a "trial" invitation for a filMarathon contest that was still in the planning stage; however, countless students expressed interest for filMarathon, and that was when we realized "we must make filMarathon happen even if we will lose money, because we mustn't fail the expectations of so many."

Season 2

2019

GROWTH

Gradually, filMarathon was seen by more people, and the number of participants nearly doubled. Previous participants reached out to us, hoping to join as volunteers. We started to have sponsors, and we signed a long contract with a venue in line with our screening philosophy. Finally, we, the founders of filMarathon who went to schools across 4 different time zones, had our first meal together after collaborating remotely for two years.

Season 3

2020

PERSISTENCE

Against the backdrop of an epidemic, in-person activities were difficult to deliver. We decided to transform filMarathon into an online event, when at the time it was only a month away. Solo-filmmaking, as we called it that year, became the default form of contest. Meanwhile, a screenplay competition was introduced for the first time. Furthermore, two in-person table reading events were held under the support of Si’Nan Bookstore. No matter what, we refuse to say that we have to cancel the filMarathon.

Season 4

2021

BEGIN AGAIN

Although the epidemic was not over, under precautionary measures and carefully designed guidelines, we decided to bring back in-person activities, including pre-competition meet-ups, training courses, screenings and Q&A, even a closing ceremony in an IMAX cinema. We were as happy as the participants, because we believe that the purpose of filMarathon is to bring every film lover together and connect in person.

Season 5

2022

"To the Lighthouse"

In the year when time seemed to stand still, everyone started to ponder the meaning of filmmaking, creating and recording. Was it merely for amusement? As our peers stuck in the monotonous routine and lost sight of ambitious goals, we sought to be a lighthouse of hope, shining weakly yet resolutely, to guide any needed soul down the path and let them know that they are not alone. The combination of Scriptwriting Competition, 48-hour Film Marathon, and Pitch Night has brought our platform and community to the next level. filMarathon doesn't settle for one contest, but stands for education, connection and collaboration.