Story Chen's feature debut wins at Busan International Film Festival

There Will Be Snow, Jianying (Story) Chen’s first feature, won the Bishkek International Film Festival-Central Asia Cinema Award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival. The win gives the Harbin-shot film and its AmeriChina-backed release a boost as it heads into four public screenings at Busan.

Why it matters: - The award puts Jianying (Story) Chen’s feature debut on an international stage after her 2022 short The Water Murmurs won the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes. - AmeriChina Group’s backing adds promotion and distribution support as the film moves toward wider visibility. - The recognition underscores the film’s themes of memory, identity and emotional connection in a future shaped by artificial intelligence and urban systems.

What happened: - There Will Be Snow won the Bishkek International Film Festival-Central Asia Cinema Award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival. - The film is written and directed by Jianying (Story) Chen. - The jury praised the film for turning a dystopian setting into a snow-and-ice visual landscape while balancing grandeur with intimate psychological detail. - The film is having four public screenings during the 31st Busan International Film Festival.

The details: - Tian’ai Zhao stars in the film, with Xiao Chen in a special starring role. - Junting Wu, Sha Bai and Yueling Shi also appear in the cast. - An Nai serves as executive producer, and Xiaoyuan Li is producer. - Jingzhu Yang, CEO of AmeriChina Group, is co-producer and has invested in the film. - The production was shot entirely on location in Harbin. - Chen grew up in Harbin and returned there to make her first feature. - The film turns Harbin into the fictional city of “Glaceterre” in 2035. - Chen has described the film as a story about memory, choice and self-confirmation. - The film follows protagonist Chen Gu as she reconnects with her hometown, body and inner self. - Chen says the film asks how people in a future world can affirm their existence and preserve emotional warmth. - Chen’s earlier short The Water Murmurs explored city, memory and parting. - The AmeriChina Foundation was established in New York in 2025. - Jingzhu Yang has said the foundation will continue supporting the work and exploration of international young filmmakers such as Chen.

Between the lines: - The project links a personal hometown story to a broader sci-fi framework, which can help the film stand out in festival programming. - The Busan prize and multiple screenings suggest a push toward international discovery before any wider release strategy unfolds. - Chen’s move from acclaimed shorts to a first feature gives the film added attention from festival audiences.

What's next: - There Will Be Snow will continue its four public screenings at Busan. - AmeriChina Group is expected to keep supporting the film’s promotion and distribution. - The film’s festival momentum could shape its next distribution and audience reach opportunities.