The 2025 "Maritime Guangdong Young Director Support Program" (hereinafter referred to as "Maritime Guangdong Program"), hosted by the Yangcheng Evening News Group, conducted a year-long global roadshow throughout the year. From early spring in Europe to the height of summer in Southeast Asia, from early autumn in North America to early winter in Northern Europe, and spanning cities across China, the Maritime Guangdong Program showcased 19 short films by 22 young directorsto audiences worldwide. These films not only left visual imprints on the world map but also left a vivid impression of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(GBA) on audiences across diverse cultural contexts.

Global showcase: a dialogue between Lingnan cinema and the world stage

The 2025 Maritime Guangdong Program roadshow selected overseas cities where the films were likely to resonate culturally, achieving a profound leap from one-way showcasing to genuine cultural dialogue.

The first stop was Paris, where the event took place at the IESA arts&culture. Six short films rich in Lingnan culture, including "Sudden Rain" and "Echoes of A Long Day", offered European audiences and academics fresh visual insights into southern Chinese society through distinctive dialect-inflected storytelling and strong emotional tension.

At the event in Singapore, a country with a strong Chinese cultural heritage, the Maritime Guangdong Program collaborated with the Chinese Scholars and Students Association in Singapore to hosta themed roadshowevent titled "Southern China Montage: The Reimagined Home,"which resonated deeply with the overseas Chinese audience. Theodorfrom Shelton College International saw traditional architecture in the films as a powerful vessel for nostalgia, while Angela from the National University of Singapore hoped the films would help the international audience better appreciate Chinese culture. Zheng Long, president of the Chinese Scholars and Students Association in Singapore, described the films as "a calling card for the GBA," effectively building bridges for cultural understanding.

In Bangkok and Seoul, the Maritime Guangdong Program further embedded itself in local cultural networks. In Bangkok, the program partnered with the local cultural organization The Bystander to host screenings at the independent art space Meshroom, aiming to spark alternative relational imaginations among the local Chinese communities. In Seoul, in collaboration with the Korean-Chinese Cultural Center (KCCC), the Maritime Guangdong Programshowcased films such as "Migratory Bird" and "The Brother" to Korean audiences for the first time at Dongguk University, promoting direct exchanges between young creators of the two countries.

Thanks to the support of Ma Yujie, president of the Chinese Students and Scholars Associationin Poland, and the art house cinema Amondo Kino (operated by Polish director Korek Bojanowski) in Warsaw, theroadshow was successfully held within the local well-established arts community. The event drew enthusiastic responses and a full house, with more than half the audience being Polish locals. Ma said Polish audiences have a deep love of cinema and hoped to see a more authentic, multifaceted China on screen.

The highlightof the annual overseas roadshow took place in Los Angeles in late August, when the global roadshowwas held at the American Film Institute (AFI), a revered institution for global film education. In addition to screening multiple award-winning short films, the event was especially significant due to its deep ties with two Maritime Guangdong Program participants, directors Chen Danting and Lu Xinhao, who are currently studying at AFI. As a co-curator, Chen described the event as "precious and rare" and "a novel and bold exchange." Lu recommended the program to peers, calling it "a truly pure film program." The AFI showcase marked a milestone in the program's evolution from a regional support program to an exchange platform recognized by leading international film education systems.

Domestic outreach: from nationwide reach to deep integration into professional communities

Parallel to the global roadshow were extensive domestic showcases. During 2025, the Maritime Guangdong Program reached cities including Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Sanya, Shenyang, Shanghai, Wenzhou, Harbin, Hohhot, Xi'an, Nyingchi, Chongqing, Chengdu, Yibin, and Jining. The program collaborates with influential film industry groups such as Emei Film Group and independent cultural spaces including FloatingIsland and Nahan Bookstore, establishing a north-to-south screening network.

Domestic roadshows placed particular emphasis on thematic curation and creative dialogue. In Shanghai, under the "Geo Film Month" framework, the "Tracing of Dialect" and "Returning Southern China" units systematically displayed films concerning dialect usage and migration, elevating the roadshow to an academic study of regional culture. In Guangzhou, Shenzhen,and other cities, directors shared insights into their creative processes. For instance, Deng Lianghong, director of "Swimming Lesson", discussed how to recreate the scenario of a 20th-century fishing village in Jiangmen, while Su Zelang, directorof "Migratory Bird", explained metaphorical layers in "the bird that leaves the flock". These discussions attracted not only the public but also many creators and studentsof the film industry, fostering vibrant film culture salons.

Multi-dimensional resonance: mutual validation among curators, audiences, and filmmakers

The impact of the Maritime Guangdong Program roadshow was confirmed bythe feedback from three coregroups: curatorial partners, on-site audiences, and filmmakers themselves.

Overseas curatorial partners highlighted the program's value of communication across cultural boundaries. Whether as a cultural bridge cited by Singapore partners or the "emotional spark" envisioned by Bangkokpartners, these locally rooted stories demonstrated universal emotions for international communication. The collaborationwith AFI, in particular, represented mutual professional recognition.

Audience feedback was direct andemotional. Chinese students studying in Singapore eased their nostalgia when seeing familiar food and architecture in the films. Domestic audiences experienced the passage of time in the silence of "How Can I Rid My Mind of Her" and shared knowing smiles at youthful memories of exchanging letters in "Hi, Marilyn." These emotional resonances basedon personal life experience underscored the films' expressive power.

The sharing of the young directors reflected the program's core value—tangible creative support. The financial backing and resources provided by the Maritime Guangdong Program are vital to turning written ideas into vivid films. The program offers full-chain support from incubation and production to promotion and screening, effectively addressing challenges faced by emerging filmmakers.

Professional core: building a sustainable development system for young filmmakers

Looking back on the roadshowsin 2025, the program's influence stemmed from its clear, rigorous, and increasingly mature operational system.

Since its inception in 2023, the Maritime Guangdong Program has balanced locality with globality, stipulating that supported works be filmed on location in the GBA. It encourages young creators to deeply explore local cultural roots, resulting in distinctive works such as "Migratory Bird" (Hong Kong), "Swimming Lesson" (Jiangmen), "Reunited" (Chaozhou), "Echoes of A Long Day" (Jieyang), "Nature Town" (Qingyuan), and "Hi, Marilyn" (Macao). The local nature of these stories has proven to be their global strength. In 2025, by removing fixed themes and opening submissions internationally, the program injected cross-cultural perspectives and vitality into local narratives.

In addition, the program has built an expanding international collaboration network. Initial partnerships with institutions such as IESA, AFI, and KCCC have gradually evolved into a stable "international circle of friends". It provides overseas screening channels and, in the future, potentially facilitates talent exchange and co-productionin films.

Entering its third year, the Maritime Guangdong Program aims to explore industrial pathways from short films to features. The roadshow has evolved from a showcase of young directors' short films to an extension of project pitching. With broader exposure at national and global levels, young directors and their works have gained visibility among more producers and film festival organizers. Throughout events, program organizers also openly shared industry insights, guiding young creators to balance artistic pursuit with industry realities.

In 2025, the Maritime Guangdong Program journeyed beyond the geographical "mountains" and "seas". Taking film as a medium, it accomplished a cultural transmission from Southern China to the world. Thestories about farewell, safeguarding, pursuit, reconciliation, and confusion demonstrate universal human emotions. Lingnan symbols woven through the films have become small yet profound gateways for audiences worldwide to understand contemporary China.

Looking forward, as more young filmmakers advance along the path "starting from locality", the future of Chinesefilm is poised to be broader, more diverse, and full of infinite possibilities.

从南国出发，向世界走去：2025山海计划全球路演年度回顾

由羊城晚报报业集团主办的“向山海走去”青年导演创作扶持计划（简称“山海计划”），在2025年全面展开了一场持续全年的全球巡回路演。从早春的欧洲到盛夏的东南亚，从初秋的北美到初冬的北欧，以及贯穿始终的国内城市，山海计划携带着22位青年导演创作的19部短片，在世界地图上标记了影像的足迹，更在不同文化语境的观众心中，种下了关于粤港澳大湾区的鲜活印象。

全球巡礼：岭南光影与世界舞台的对话

2025年的山海计划路演，选择了文化共鸣点显著的海外城市，实现了从展示到对话的深度跨越。

首站巴黎，活动走进巴黎高等文化艺术管理学院（IESA）。《骤雨》《长日留痕》等六部极具岭南风土人情的短片，以其独特的方言叙事和情感张力，为欧洲观众与学界提供了理解中国南方社会细腻纹理的新鲜影像切片。

在华人文化根基深厚的新加坡，山海计划与新加坡中国学者学生联合会共同举办了主题为“南国蒙太奇：被重构的家园想象”的路演活动。放映引发了海外游子的深切共鸣。新加坡莎顿国际学院的Theodor从影片的古建筑中看到了乡愁的载体，新加坡国立大学的Angela则希望通过这些影片向国际友人展现中国文化。新加坡中国学者学生联合会主席郑龙评价，这些影片是“粤港澳大湾区的名片”，有效搭建了文化理解的桥梁。

在曼谷与首尔，山海计划进一步深入在地文化网络。曼谷站与本地文化机构“不在场证明”合作，在独立艺术空间Meshroom举办放映，旨在唤起属于在地华人社群的另一种关系想象；首尔站则联手中韩文化艺术交流院（KCCC），进入东国大学，将《家庭旅行》《远洋》等作品首次带给韩国观众，促进了中韩青年创作者之间的直接交流。

国内深耕：从南北纵贯到专业社群的渗透

得益于波兰中国学生学者联谊会主席马煜杰与华沙艺术影院Amondo Kino（由波兰导演科雷克·博亚诺夫斯基运营）的支持，山海计划华沙站路演成功落地于当地成熟的文艺社群。活动最终反响热烈，影厅座无虚席，超过半数为波兰本土观众。马煜杰表示，波兰观众本身对电影就有非比寻常的热爱，进一步来说，也希望通过银幕看见一个更加真实、更加立体的中国。

年度海外路演的高光时刻，当属8月末的美国洛杉矶站。山海计划走进了世界电影教育的殿堂——美国电影学院（AFI）。此次活动不仅放映了多部获奖短片，更因其与两位AFI在读的山海计划导演陈丹婷、卢锌浩的深度联结而意义非凡。作为活动联合策展人，陈丹婷感慨此举“非常珍贵、也很难得”，是一次“新奇、大胆的碰撞”。卢锌浩则向同行力荐，称山海计划是一个“非常纯粹的电影项目”。走进AFI，标志着山海计划从区域性扶持项目，跃升为获得国际顶尖电影教育体系关注与认可的交流平台。

与国际路演并行的，是在中国境内的广泛深耕。2025年，山海计划抵达了广州、北京、深圳、石家庄、三亚、沈阳、上海、温州、哈尔滨、呼和浩特、西安、林芝、重庆、成都、宜宾、济宁等城市，与峨眉电影集团等兼具产业和创作影响力的影视产业集团、“漂浮岛”、“呐喊书店”等独立文化空间或机构合作，形成了南北纵贯的放映网络。

国内路演尤为注重主题策划与创作对话。上海站以“地缘影像月”为框架，设置“声音的溯洄”与“向南的迁徙”两大单元，系统性梳理了短片中的方言运用与移民主题，将路演提升为一次学术性的地域文化研究。在广州、深圳等地的映后交流中，导演们深入分享创作细节。例如《游泳课》导演邓亮宏阐述如何在江门复现上世纪渔村风貌，《家庭旅行》导演苏泽朗解读“离群之鸟”的隐喻层次。这些交流不仅面向公众，更吸引了大量业内创作者与学子，形成了活跃的电影文化沙龙氛围。

多维回响：策展人、观众与主创的互为印证

山海计划路演的影响力，通过策展伙伴、现场观众与电影主创这三个核心群体的反馈，得到了立体印证。

海外策展伙伴看重其超越文化隔阂的沟通价值。无论是新加坡学联的桥梁定位，还是曼谷合作方希望激发的“情感引线”，都说明这些基于本土的故事，具备了国际传播的情感公约数。而AFI站的合作，更是专业层面上的相互认可。

观众的反馈更为直接而感性。新加坡留学生从美食、建筑中找到乡愁慰藉；国内观众在《海水泡的茶是什么味道》的静默中体会时代印痕，在《你好，马莉莉》书信往来的青春回忆中会心一笑。这些基于个体生命经验的共鸣，是影片传递情感力量的最佳注脚。

山海计划青年导演们的讲述，则体现了山海计划的核心价值——切实的创作支持。山海计划提供的扶持资金及配套资源，是将创意从文本转化为影像的关键推力。从孵化、拍摄到宣发、展映的全链条扶持，有效地解决了青年影人起步阶段的现实难题。

专业内核：构筑可持续的青年电影人成长体系

回顾全年路演，山海计划的影响力源于其清晰、严谨且日益成熟的运作体系。

2023年首届山海计划发起之初，便确立了在地性与国际性并重的创作导向，山海计划扶持作品需在粤港澳大湾区取景，鼓励青年创作者们深挖在地文化根脉，并诞生了如《家庭旅行》（香港）、《游泳课》（江门）、《锦鲤，锦鲤》（潮州）《长日留痕》（揭阳）、《雀尾》（清远）、《你好，马莉莉》（澳门）等极具辨识度的作品。越是地方的，越能走向世界。同时，2025年首次不设具体主题并开放中外联合报名，又为这种本土叙事注入了跨文化的视角与活力。

此外，山海计划构建了一个持续扩大的国际化协作网络。与IESA、AFI、KCCC等海外院校及机构的合作由活动开启，逐步形成稳定的“国际朋友圈”。这一网络不仅为短片提供了海外放映渠道，未来更可能发展为人才交流、项目合制的平台。

步入第三届，山海计划致力于探索从短片到长片的产业路径。路演不仅是青年导演短片作品的展示，更是项目创投的延伸。通过在全国及全球曝光，青年导演及其作品得以进入更多制片人、电影节选片人的视野。山海计划组委会在活动中亦坦诚分享行业见解，引导青年创作者在艺术追求与产业现实间寻找平衡。

2025年，山海计划的旅程超越了地理意义上的“山”与“海”。它以电影为媒介，完成了一场从南国出发、向世界走去的文化传递。这些影片所讲述的离别、守望、追寻、和解、困惑，是人类共通的情感语言；通过影像串联的众多岭南符号，成为不同国度观众理解当代中国的一个个微小而深刻的入口。

展望未来，当更多青年影人沿着这条“从地方生长而出”的路径向前，华语电影的未来图景，必将更加开阔、多元，并充满无限的可能。

文字 | 蔡淳淳
图片 | 羊城晚报山海计划融媒体工作室
译 | 柯妃娟
英文审校 | 赵凡