I have always had a strong interest in film practice and over the last few years I’ve completed a few exciting projects. My short film Bicycle was awarded the Official Selection for the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival and the 22nd Independent Days International Film Festival in Germany. My documentary The Road to Kung Fu has received the Best Long Video Award at the 2023 United Nations Chinese Language Day & The Third Chinese Language Video Festival.

Now, I have founded the Eutopia Arthouse Film Festival with the support of my PhD supervisor, Frank Delaney (Subject Lead of Broadcast Production), and Dr. Derek Johnston.

The reason I wanted to host a film festival at Queen's stems from my experience attending the 22nd Independent Days Film Festival in April last year. In April 2023, I received funding from the Queen’s AHSS Jetset Award, which allowed me to travel to Karlsruhe, Germany, to attend the screening of Bicycle. At the screening, I met many talented filmmakers, exchanged ideas, and received a lot of inspiration. I also had an in-depth conversation with Festival Director Dr. Oliver Langewitz, who encouraged me to organize my own film festival in Belfast and provided me with a lot of advice and support.

Upon returning to Belfast, I seriously considered this idea and realised that film festivals are excellent platforms for facilitating exchanges among young filmmakers, as well as between the film industry and academia. Thus, I began planning our festival, Eutopia Arthouse Film Festival (EAFF) which would focus on promoting interactions among young directors from diverse cultural backgrounds and showcasing the work of local directors and culture in Northern Ireland.

During the planning process, I received help and support from my Ph.D. supervisors, Frank Delaney and Dr. Derek Johnston, as the film festival screenings were related to my ongoing Ph.D. research. For instance, the ‘Cultural Bridge’ section of the films provided new practical insights for my research, and the audience feedback during the festival screenings would aid my doctoral research on cinema phenomenology.

During this period, I attended a series of lectures and seminars on the film industry organized by the Graduate School, which provided valuable academic support and assistance in preparing for my film festival. Additionally, the teachers and staff from the Language Centre at Queen's, the School of AEL, and QFT also give many help to the festival.

After we had the honour of securing support from the 2024 Queen's Annual Fund, the festival commenced operations. This year, we received 517 film submissions from around the world, and we selected 30 films to be screened at the Queen's Film Theatre and Queen's Film Studio. These films are diverse in genre, rooted in various countries and regions, and reflect cultural diversity.

EAFF directly benefits students in the AEL School, specifically those majoring in Film, Media and Broadcast Production, and Arts Management. Not only do they have the opportunity for their work to be publicly screened on the big screen, they also have the chance to engage with filmmakers from around the world, exchanging film production skills and enhancing their professional skills through participation in workshops. 

In addition to students in related majors, EAFF also provides benefits to other Queen’s students interested in film and cultural diversity. For students not majoring in related fields, attending the film festival offers a unique opportunity to understand the art of filmmaking and expand their cultural and aesthetic perspectives. Film is not just a form of entertainment; it is a powerful means of cultural and social expression that can inspire audiences to appreciate and think about different ways of life.

Finally, participating in the film festival allows students to establish interdisciplinary connections, which are valuable assets in any future career path. The various activities offered by the festival, such as workshops, panel discussions, and meet-and-greets with directors, serve as excellent platforms for learning communication and critical thinking skills. Therefore, even students not specializing in film can greatly benefit from this vibrant cultural experience.

Find out more about the Eutopia Arthouse Film Festival on the Queen's University website.