Story Chen’s There Will Be Snow premieres in Busan competition

Jianying (Story) Chen’s feature debut, There Will Be Snow, has been selected for the Vision competition at the 31st Busan International Film Festival. The film, shot in Harbin and backed by AmeriChina Group, centers on memory, choice and identity as Chen moves from acclaimed short films to features.

Why it matters: - Jianying (Story) Chen’s first feature brings a Cannes-winning short-film director into Busan’s Vision competition. - The selection gives There Will Be Snow an international launch platform as AmeriChina Group backs both promotion and distribution. - The film ties a personal hometown story to larger questions about memory, identity and life in a more AI-driven future.

What happened: - There Will Be Snow was selected for the Vision competition section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. - Chen wrote and directed the film. - The feature stars Tian’ai Zhao, with Xiao Chen in a special starring role. - Junting Wu, Sha Bai and Yueling Shi also appear in the cast. - An Nai is executive producer, and Xiaoyuan Li is producer. - Jingzhu Yang, CEO of AmeriChina Group, joined the project as co-producer and invested in the film. - The film will have four public screenings during the festival.

The details: - The production was shot entirely on location in Harbin. - Chen grew up in Harbin and returned there to make her first feature. - The film turns Harbin into the fictional “Glaceterre” of 2035. - The story is built around snow-covered streets and a cityscape in constant flux. - Chen describes the film as being about memory, choice and the confirmation of self. - The narrative follows protagonist Chen Gu as she confronts her hometown, her body and her inner self. - The film explores how people might affirm their existence and preserve emotional warmth in a future shaped by artificial intelligence and urban systems. - Chen’s short film The Water Murmurs won the Short Film Palme d’Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in 2022.

Between the lines: - The project extends Chen’s recurring interest in city life, memory and parting. - Returning to Harbin gives the feature a biographical layer that deepens its emotional stakes. - AmeriChina Group’s involvement signals support beyond financing, including distribution and outreach. - The AmeriChina Foundation was established in New York in 2025. - Jingzhu Yang has said the foundation will continue supporting the artistic work and exploration of international young filmmakers such as Chen.

What’s next: - There Will Be Snow will screen four times at the Busan International Film Festival. - The festival exposure could help position Chen for a wider feature-film rollout. - AmeriChina Group is expected to continue supporting the film’s promotion and distribution. - The AmeriChina Foundation is expected to keep backing emerging international filmmakers.

The bottom line: - Chen’s Busan premiere marks a major step from acclaimed shorts to a feature debut with international backing and festival visibility.