HOME ON THE BORDER

Directors:

Writers:

Yifan Liu

Yifan Liu, Fang Qin

Producers:

Junhu Li, Hongtao Wei, Yifan Liu

Run Time:

0:08:13

Awarded for the following Category(s):

Awarded Category(s)

Long before the advent of written language, an ethnic group calling themselves the Wa had settled in what is now the border region of China and Burma. The fearless Wa people hunted through mountains, rivers, and valleys, making their homes deep in the boundless forests. However，since the second half of the twentieth century, the traditional hunting life of the Wa people has been undergoing changes. Their hunting land was gradually besieged by the advance of modern agriculture. They have been divided by borders, with members spreading across the modern nations of China and Burma. I am Yifan Liu, a high school student fascinated by how traditional ethnic groups were and still are transformed in modern society. In this documentary, I will journey deep into the Wa Mountains, homeland of the Wa people for generations, to explore how this ancient ethnic group has transformed over time.

Submitter Statement

Hello, I'm the director of this film. I was inspired to create this work because immersive fieldwork allowed me to step into the lives of minority communities. I began to understand how these traditional groups, amid the overwhelming tide of modernization, have often become voiceless and gradually faded into the backdrop of modern society. That’s why I decided to use documentary filmmaking to capture the genuine feelings of local residents toward these changes. I believe that visual media—especially the relatively truthful form of documentary—can carry the weight of "being seen" and convey the voices of those who often go unheard. Dear esteemed judges, although we may come from different cultural backgrounds, what I aim to express and share are emotions and experiences common to people in modern society. I sincerely hope that cultural differences won’t stand in the way of mutual understanding. I truly hope you enjoy watching it.

Yifan Liu is a high school student from Nanjing Foreign Language School with a wide range of interests. He particularly enjoys reading and has a strong passion for sociology and psychology. This summer, he traveled across China to the homeland of the Wa ethnic group, where he created this film with heartfelt dedication.

Key Cast

Yifan Liu

Hu Ai

Other Credits