[中文版本]
Recently, the Hollywood IWAA International Film Festival 2023 held an offline awards ceremony in Maryland, USA. The event included a film-themed panel where filmmakers and movie enthusiasts interacted. The event also featured a screening of the latest short film "Lost and Found" by young Chinese director Wang Geyang, which sparked intense discussion among attendees due to its provocative theme.
Ms. Margaret Bihong Sha, a renowned Chinese director and writer and the chairperson of the Hollywood IWAA International Film Festival, presented awards to the winners. Her speech praising and encouraging women received applause from the audience.
She said, "Women, like the sun and the moon, always make up half of the world and steadfastly support the sky. We are proud to present the Women's Power Award to those who enrich every corner of our world with kindness, wisdom, courage, diligence, and unwavering commitment. In honoring them, we not only offer our deepest respect and enthusiastic encouragement but also hope that they continue to be beacons of progress and unwavering support for women's causes worldwide, making even more contributions to world peace and beauty.
On behalf of the Hollywood International Women's Art Alliance, I am honored to present this honor to our esteemed winners.
We sincerely thank you for your infinite support and contributions to your families, friends, and communities. We celebrate the positive power you bring to our world."
Ms. Qingyu Hou, a prominent educator, social activist, and World Peace Ambassador residing in Maryland, was awarded the Cover Person of Women's Power and the Hollywood International Women's Outstanding Personality Award for 2023 at the Hollywood IWAA International Film Festival. She became the first Chinese women recipient of this global award. Another Chinese director and filmmaker, Ma Guilan, residing in Charlottesville, Virginia, was also honored with the Hollywood IWAA Women's Power "Award of Merit."
President Margaret Bihong Sha extended her sincere congratulations to the two Chinese-American winners and expressed her hope that more women of different ethnicities from different countries would be able to stand on this stage. She wished for more women to enter mainstream society and step onto the international stage, not only impacting the lives of more women and their families, but also using the beauty and wisdom of women to lead the global family towards a more peaceful and harmonious path.
“Lost and Found” screenwriter and director Elizabeth Wang
Another highlight of the event was the screening of the short film "Lost and Found," written and directed by young Chinese director Elizabeth Geyang Wang. The film tells the story of a Chinese immigrant family facing turmoil due to their son's gender transition. It mainly focuses on a Shanghai couple who immigrated to the United States, exploring the harm caused to immigrant families by gender transitions and the helplessness and difficulties faced by parents. Leading actress Jie He shared that she interviewed several mothers who had similar experiences to the main character before crafting her role, drawing inspiration and empathy from them. Her performance received applause from the audience. Renowned host and actor David Hu portrayed the male lead and delivered a fantastic performance that showcased another side of his acting skills. When discussing his portrayal of the character, he also talked about his understanding and exploration of the theme. He, too, drew inspiration from families facing similar issues in his own life. Gary Liu also shared his experience in cinematography for the film.
At the film screening, the screenwriter and director of the film, Elizabeth Wang (third from left), shared the director's explanation and answered questions from the audience. From left to right: the leading actress He Jie, the leading actor Hu Hong, screenwriter and director Elizabeth Wang, and producer Sha Bihong.
As a young director, Elizabeth Geyang Wang is using her perspective to explore topics in real life and hopes to tell stories that have meaningful implications for people. She is currently preparing for a feature film with a similar theme to this short film. Therefore, she is eager to hear the voices of the Chinese community. The topic sparked intense discussion, with well-known media person and writer Diantao Sun expressing his inability to accept such phenomena and sharing his attitude when encountering similar events in life, choosing to stand on the side of tradition. Ms. Bei Ma, who lives in a predominantly white environment, shared a similar story she encountered, where a white family accepted their daughter's gender transition. Ms. Ma mentioned that it seems people in the Chinese community are more conservative and hold onto tradition regarding such issues. Some people expressed understanding for the choices made by the transgender community but found it difficult to accept if it happened to their own children. The discussion continued during the free activity time, with various viewpoints colliding and people sharing similar family stories. Director Elizabeth Geyang Wang expressed her gratitude for everyone's ideas and sincere suggestions. She said that every suggestion and viewpoint contributes to the richness of this film. She sincerely thanked everyone for their support and encouragement. Although some parts of the subsequent film have already been shot, she believes the previous filming was just an exploration. After summarizing and reviewing everyone's suggestions, she will continue to modify the script and complete the rest of the filming and production. It is worth mentioning that Elizabeth Geyang Wang recently received over 20 international awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Feature Film, and Best Editing, for her film "See Me Once More, My Dear Kid," where she served as the screenwriter and the main editor. May the talented Geyang Wang achieve even greater progress and success in this new film creation!
The event takes place in a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere, where people enjoy delicious food while engaging in lively conversations. The shared love for movies brings everyone closer together.
'Lost and Found' movie screenwriter and director Elizabeth Wang (first from left) talks with an event participant.
Finally, President Margaret Bihong Sha emphasized that the Hollywood IWAA International Film Festival aims to promote cultural exchange and cooperation between countries around the world as well as to provide a platform for female filmmakers to showcase their talents and stories. She expressed her gratitude to all the attendees, sponsors, and partners for their support in making the event a success.
Overall, the Hollywood IWAA International Film Festival 2023 was a memorable and impactful event, featuring thought-provoking films, inspiring speeches, and meaningful discussions. It celebrated the achievements of women in the film industry and highlighted important social issues through the power of storytelling.
Hollywood IWAA, initiated and composed by elite filmmakers from around the world, is located in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The board of directors consists mostly of global award-winning directors, producers, or A-list international film festival judges, holding a strong position and reputation both internationally as well as within Hollywood.
