Opening & Festival Overview

Mint Chinese Film Festival (MINT CFF) is the first women-organised Chinese film festival in the UK. Founded by Chinese film curator Yixiang Shirley Lin and Keswick Alhambra Cinema’s co-owner Dr Carol Rennie in autu, the festival focuses on cross-cultural communication and the representation of women.

The inaugural festival concluded on February 5, 2023, at the Keswick Alhambra Cinema in Cumbria, the Lake District of northern England, and was a tremendous success. The attendance of the three-day cultural extravaganza exceeded 1,000 people, with 75% of Chinese origin and 70% being female or non-binary.

We allow interested audiences to discover a beautiful part of the UK and to experience 'small town' life in more sustainable/environmentally friendly methods.

The outcome consists of the Opening Gala: a creative programme, 25 screenings, UK premieres of three women-made Chinese films, 4 European premieres, 2 discussion panels, Chinese craft workshops and cultural displays.

We predominantly showcased Chinese women's cinema by working with female curators, artists and young film selectors with diverse backgrounds, responding to current social issues and through women’s representations on the screen and stage.

In the 2023 global call for submissions, the committee received over 400 entries in total. Among those, 36.4% were from females, 57.8% from males, and 5.8% from people with diverse gender identities or non-binary identities. Diversity and inclusion are always our concerns for festival strategies.

2023 Festival Highlights

Opening gala： creative programme

The festival's opening night featured a drink reception for MINT festival-goers and Dr. Xuelei Huang from the University of Edinburgh introduced the opening film, "Pan Si Dong" (1927), a fantasy film produced by Shanghai Film Studio. An experimental live music performance and electronic mix by Aurora Engine scored for this early silent film, bringing the audience a surreal sensory experience that blended East and West. Further, Tina Anckarman from the National Library of Norway delivered a post-screening live Q&A session.

Film programmes

A silent film gala opening with live music, 9 feature films, 2 short film strands, and a short film competition - 5 shorts screened from over 400 submissions.

Panel Discussion

The festival offered an exclusive panel discussion titled "Women’s Representations in ‘Specialised Film’" for Full Festival Pass holders. Esteemed guest speakers included Dr. Xuelei Huang, Dr. Lydia Wu, Giulia D'Aquila, Dr. Dorothy W. S. LAU, and Dr. Patrick Adamson. It delved into the historical challenges women had faced in the film industry and their enduring contributions, offering fresh perspectives and inspirational thoughts on this vital topic.

Awards

Audiences’ Choice Award:

The festival was chosen from nearly 400 submissions received after rigorous reviews by Mint Young Film Selectors and Professional Juries from around the world. These films, representing impactful cinematic expressions, told thought-provoking true stories through distinctive lenses. The festival committee was proud to have received such a wealth of talent from filmmakers worldwide, and these films competed for the coveted Audience's Choice Award. The finalists included "How I Grew Up" (2021) by Yufei Liu, "Second Birth" (2022) by Shihan Tan, "A Firecracker Story" (2021) by Zhizi Hao, "Hair" (2019) directed by Pahriya Ghalip and Ina Luna Gundersen, and "NOSTALGIA" (2022) by Guorong Zhang.

At the first edition of the festival, the winner of the Audiences’ Choice Award (Zhizi Hao, A Firecracker Story) obtained a £300 grant from the MINT aiming to stimulate creation and support Hao’s filmmaking endeavour. Besides that, we provided all the shortlisted films with follow-up promotion opportunities, such as international screenings and interaction with audiences.

Active Audience Awards:

We offered ED 16 awards of £100 to Edinburgh University students attending the inaugural MINT Chinese Film Festival. Our bursary awards are a contribution to the cost of travel and accommodation for those who are taking part in the festival.

Mint Active Audience Award is fully supported by The University of Edinburgh’s Student Experience Grants scheme to motivate students from the University of Edinburgh to explore the exciting cultural events and the diversity of Chinese film. In line with our mission and curatorial ethos, the Mint CFF encourages in particular women and sexual/gender diverse groups living in Edinburgh to participate in the first edition of the Mint Chinese Film festival launched in Keswick, exploring the diversity of Chinese cinemas and meeting like-minded people.

Outdoor Activities and Events:

The festival extended its offerings beyond the cinema screen with a range of engaging outdoor activities. Attendees could join guided walks to Friars Crag, participate in cultural events related to Chinese Spring and Lantern festivals, and enjoy free outdoor and indoor activities. These activities provided a unique opportunity to connect with the natural beauty of the Lake District and immerse oneself in Chinese culture and traditions.

The Mint Chinese Film Festival was a dynamic and inclusive celebration of Chinese cinema, women's representation in film, and cultural exchange. Its rich program of films, discussions, and outdoor activities promised a memorable and enlightening experience for all attendees.