Write a short summary of what happens in the film.

Entirely shot on iPhone, the 12-minute movie ‘Nian’ is an alternative take on a Chinese New Year folklore that traditionally portrays the titular character as a terrifying monster. In this version, a curious little girl confronts her fear of the unknown by seeking out the elusive, forest-dwelling Nian to find out if he was indeed as menacing as her parents often described – a ruse to discourage her from wandering off to the forest alone. Her curiosity was rewarded when she discovers the creature was misunderstood all along. Soon a beautiful friendship ensues.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

According to Chinese New Year folklore, Nian is a ferocious beast that is often said to terrorize villages and eat children. Little is known about the creature which makes it fearsome in people’s imagination for centuries. This fear of the unknown is an innate human insight carried through time which intensified in 2020, a year full of uncertainties. In our story, our protagonist acts on her curiosity by confronting her fear of the unknown in seeking out the truth about ‘Nian’, whose name also means ‘year’ in Chinese. As a symbolic gesture towards another challenging year, we reimagined his character as a beacon of goodness to spread positive cheer and encourage people to explore new horizons with courage.

Tell the jury anything relevant about the direction. Do not name the director.

The fear of the unknown is a central theme layered within different elements of the plot. The flexibility of shooting entirely on iPhone allowed the director to get intimate with our characters and the world around them to construct realistic visual and emotional manifestations of the theme. From the monster’s mistrust in humans and the sinister aura of his cave to the protagonist’s parents’ disapproval of her curiosity about the monster and their humble abode shrouded in dim lights – all coming together to form a consistent visual language that envelops the audience into developing empathy for the story and its characters.