The Producers

Fan Jian: Director

Fan Jian is a Beijing-based documentary director with a focus on Chinese social issues and human interest. After graduating from Beijing Film Academy, he made more than 5 feature docs, which have been selected for the Berlinale and IDFA among other festivals. His previous film The Next Life, a co-production with NHK & Al Jazeera, won many awards in China. His latest work My Land, which received support from the Sundance doc fund, was selected for the Berlinale 2016.

Making The Film

The film shows the power of new media in China. Once appeared on the Internet, they became well-known overnight. For some time, Yu Xiuhua’s name was searched online more often than movies stars like Daniel Craig. New media changed her fate. Yu Xiuhua said it was like in a dream.

Although I am a man, I developed a very good relation with Yu Xiuhua during filming. She sees me as a close friend, since I very carefully read and try to understand her and her poems. She lets me film many private moments, and is willing to open up to me. Also, to build female perspectives in the film, women members in my team helped me.