Chinese language filmmaker Jing Zou, director of the narrative characteristic movie “A Woman Unknown,” has been named because the winner of the fifth annual Lynn Shelton “Of a Sure Age” Grant from Seattle’s Northwest Movie Discussion board (NWFF). This grant contains an unrestricted money award of $25,000 to assist her directorial debut, which follows a lady from age six by means of her 30s as she’s handed between a number of households and is impressed by the true story of generations of Chinese language ladies who have been deserted because of the nation’s defunct one-child coverage.
“I’m completely honored to be chosen because the recipient of the 2024 Lynn Shelton ‘Of a Sure Age’ award for my first characteristic, ‘A Woman Unknown.’ Thanks for this recognition and in your assist,” Zou stated in an announcement. “I’m dedicated to benefiting from this award and to creating a movie that honors the spirit of Lynn Shelton.”
“A Woman Unknown” beforehand obtained the highest prize on the Subsequent Step Initiative at Cannes Critics’ Week and Zou’s quick movie, “Lili Alone” (“Duo Li”) gained the Leitz Cine Discovery Prize at Critics’ Week in 2021. Born in 1984, the filmmaker has a literary background, however discovered her ardour for filmmaking working as a director and editor of documentaries at Shanghai Worldwide TV Station. She is at present based mostly out of Shanghai and Los Angeles.
Following her sudden passing in 2020, the Lynn Shelton “Of a Sure Age” Grant was co-established by Duplass Brothers Productions, who collaborated steadily with Shelton, and NWFF —with main ongoing assist from COLOR, Eliza Flug, CB Shamah, Lacey Leavitt Grey, Megan Griffiths, Olivia Newman, Marc Maron, Jennessa & Rob West, Sean Donavan, Michaela Watkins, and extra group members. It goals to assist a U.S.-based feminine, non-binary, and/or transgender filmmaker – age 39 or older – within the strategy of creating and directing their first narrative characteristic.
Of the grant’s influence, filmmaker and NWFF Board Member Megan Griffiths stated, “Realizing that there are actually 5 extraordinary filmmakers ‘of a sure age’ which have obtained assist for his or her work and affirmation of their desires by means of this grant would have introduced Lynn a lot pleasure. I’m so grateful to Northwest Movie Discussion board and all the individuals who make this grant doable, and thrilled to be launched to the work of Jing Zou and the remainder of this yr’s wonderful finalists.”
NWFF Grants Supervisor Emily Zimmerman added, “This grant does one thing completely distinctive within the context of america by providing assist to a girl or gender various filmmaker 40-and-over embarking on their first characteristic size narrative movie. It has been a singular honor to be a part of this award.”
Jennifer Phang, Sarah Smith, and Avril Speaks served as this yr’s Award Choice Committee and in a collective assertion wrote, “We have been overwhelmed and overjoyed by the sheer quantity of expertise that submitted their tasks to this grant. There have been numerous inventive causes to get behind every filmmaker and their venture, so it was difficult to pick out the finalists, not to mention the ultimate awardee.”
“Finally we as jurors shared a deep appreciation for Jing Zou’s distinctive filmmaking type and the topic of her subsequent venture ‘A Woman Unknown.’ The story follows the tumultuous journey of a younger Chinese language woman who has three names as she navigates the complexities of her previous, current, and future amidst a tapestry of three distinct household dynamics. This work and Jing Zou’s topic of alternative stood out within the world relevance of a narrative about how ladies are collectively undervalued around the globe.”
15 different filmmakers have been additionally thought-about for the award, together with Cat Solen, Cynthia Wade, Fatemeh Hosseini, Gabriela Garcia Medina, Kate Marks, Katrina Whalen, Lana Wilson, Marissa Chibas, Michele Atkins, Missy Hernandez, and Sonia Malfa. Honorable Mentions from the Award Choice Committee went to Catya Plate, Elizabeth Sargent, and Masami Kawai.
You possibly can contribute to the Lynn Shelton “Of a Sure Age” Grant by donating to NWFF by means of their NetworkForGood portal. The Shelton/Seal Household Fund for the Northwest College for Deaf and Exhausting-of-Listening to Youngsters and Seattle’s Northwest Movie Discussion board are additionally accepting donations in Shelton’s honor.