To Say Goodbye is To Die a Little (2024)
About
Director Statement
After more than four years of conceptualization, my film To Say Goodbye is To Die a Little has officially wrapped production.
The film explores the life of an American middle-class family following an unexpected tragedy. The daily lives of the family members reflect three archetypes found in modern society: a young person who is self-righteous, full of personality and pride, oscillating between striving and giving up; a middle-aged man who, unable to prove his success or failure, puts on a brave face while being utterly exhausted; and a middle-aged woman who is marginalized no matter what, burdened with family responsibilities, and struggling in solitude against unavoidable hardships.
The world is undergoing immense changes, and everyone seems to be struggling, living in loneliness. When the words "pain" and "farewell" are placed together, one naturally thinks of death; but death is not the only way to say goodbye. Slowly facing death is the most heartbreaking process, signifying that you will never see the other person again in this life. There must be many things and people in this world that we are reluctant to let go of, regrets of not even having the chance to say goodbye...
Nothing lasts forever. There will always be moments of farewell. Before that moment comes, let us strive to live our lives to the fullest.
Synopsis
To Say Goodbye is to Die a Little tells the story of an American middle-class family struggling after a series of misfortunes. The silent endurance and unspoken conflicts among the family members ultimately lead them to face the family's final decision. The story follows a daughter who, after enduring severe bullying at school during her adolescence, faces a tragic accident; a once successful mother who, after another accident, has to give up her career to become a full-time caregiver; and a father who, while facing a mid-life crisis at work, hides the worsening of his Parkinson's disease from his family. The film portrays the unavoidable decisions faced by an ordinary family amidst issues such as children's growth, school bullying, career sacrifices, getting old, financial scams and declining health.
Awards
Los Angeles Short Film Award 2024, Honorable Mention
Austin International Art Festiva 2024, Semi-Finalist
Berlin Shorts Award 2024, Semi-Finalis
Credits
Director: Liang Chen
Producer: Liang Chen, Li Li
Music Producer: Liu wen "Wendy"
Cinematographer: Li Yongjie
Editor: Liang Chen; Li Yongjie
actor: Barbara Reininger, Mike Murphey, Stephani Anson
Long Way to Yesterday（2023）
About
This short film, set in ancient China, uses three storylines to explore the different emotions experienced by youths and their elders as they make choices for their lives. The film is highly philosophical, combining traditional Chinese art forms such as ink-and-paper painting with a contemporary story about love and relationships. The interactions between the old and the young reveal their similarities but also the disparity that comes with age.
Awards
Berlin Shorts Award 2023, Best Music Video, Winner
New York City (NYC) Independent Film Festival 2023, Best Music Video, Winner
Global Star International Culture Festival 2023, Best Music Video, Winner
Seattle independent film festival 2023, Winner
Clown International Film Festival 2023, Winner
San Diego International Film Awards 2023,Winner
New York Film Monthly 2023, Winner
Hollywood Gold Awards 2023, Winner
Austin International Art Festival 2023, Winner
The IndieFEST Film Awards 2023, Winner
Berlin New Wave Film Festival 2023, Winner
New York Movie Awards 2023, Winner
Paris International Short Festival 2023, Finalist
Chicago Filmmaker Awards 2023, Finalist
Hawaii International Film Awards 2023, Finalist
San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival 2023, Finalist
Credits
Director: Liang Chen
Music Composer: Liu Wen "Wendy"
Music Producer: Liu wen "Wendy"
Singer: Xiong Rulin
Producer: Liang Chen
Cinematographer: Li Yongjie
Editor: Liang Chen; Li Yongjie
A Beautiful Zither（2023）
About
This short film, set in ancient China, uses three storylines to explore the different emotions experienced by youths and their elders as they make choices for their lives. The film is highly philosophical, combining traditional Chinese art forms such as ink-and-paper painting with a contemporary story about love and relationships. The interactions between the old and the young reveal their similarities but also the disparity that comes with age.
Awards
Hollywood Gold Awards, Winner, 2023
Hollywood Int'l Golden Age Festival, Winner, 2023
Berlin New Wave Film Festival, Winner, 2023
London Indie Short Festival Best Narrative Int'l Shorts, Winner, 2023
Indie Short Fest, Winner, 2023
The IndieFEST Film Awards, Winner, 2023
London Indie Short Festival, Winner, 2023
San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival, Winner, 2023
Dallas Movie Festival, Best Short, Winner, 2023
Austin Int'l Art Festival, Winner, 2023
Portland New Alternative Voices, Winner, 2023
Santa Barbara International Movie Awards, Winner, 2023
Andromeda Film Festival, Winner, 2023
Sacramento Independent Film Festival, Winner, 2023
Vienna Indie Short Film Festival, Semi-Finalist, 2023
Paris International Short Festival, Semi-Finalist, 2023
Calgary Independent Film Festival, Semi-Finalist, 2023
Berlin Short Award, Semi-Finalist, 2023
Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, Semi-Finalist, 2023
Dubai Independent Film Festival, Semi-Finalist, 2023
San Diego Int'l Film Awards, Semi-Finalist, 2023
Brooklyn Int'l Short Awards, Semi-Finalist, 2023
Credits
Screenplay Consultant: Christi Chin Mei
Art Consultant: Liu Changhan, Yang Mingyi, Junrui Garcia
Director: Liang Chen
Talent: He Furong, Jiang Yutong
Cinematographer: Li Yongjie
Editor: Li Yongjie
Music: Liu Wen "Wendy"
Keep Breathing（2021）
About
This 6-minute documentary highlights the people and policies' response to the dissatisfaction with policing in the United States, focusing specifically on Seattle. It describes how police brutality led to a call for major reforms during demonstrations that turned violent in this city.
Award
North America Int'l UniFilm Festival, Best Short Film Nominee, 2021
STOWAWAYS（2020）
About
Based on a true story, Stowaways is a film about the lives of Chinese immigrants in the United States. In the early 1990s, a group of underprivileged young people from mainland China chose to cross the ocean and sneak into the US, in hopes of finding gold in America. More than two decades later, have they achieved their dreams in America? How are they getting along?
Awards
Hollywood Gold Awards, Best Feature Film, Winner, 2022
London Movie Awards, Best Screenplay, Winner, 2022
Paris Film Awards, Best Screenplay, Winner, 2022
Florence Film Awards, Official Selection, 2022
Hollywood Independent Filmmaker Awards & Festival, Official Selection, 2021
LA Hollywood Asian Film Festival, Best Feature, Winner, 2020
WorldFest Houston, Silver Remi Award of Directing, Winner, 2020
IndieFest, Best Feature Award, Winner, 2020
Four Corners Film Festival, Best Narrative Feature, Finalist, 2020
Montreal Independent Film Festival, Best International Narrative Feature, Finalist, 2020
Cannes 7th Art Awards, Cannes International Independent Film, Official Selection, 2020
Chicago Indie Film Awards, Best Narrative Feature, Official Selection, 2020
Covellite International Film Festival, Official Selection, 2020
Rome Prisma Independent Film Awards, Official Selection, 2020
International Art Film Festival, Official Selection, 2020
Credits
Director: Liang Chen
Produced by: Li Li
Presented by: Christi Chin Mei, Liang Chen, Chen Ning
Cast: Liang Chen, Xie Yufang, Zhang Rongxuan, Liu Xiangchen, Layton Payne, Giovanni Silva
Cinematographer: Li Yongjie
Editor: Cui Rong
Music: Wu Xiaoping
55, New Start（2020）
About
A 55-year-old Chinese woman is rediscovering life in America. She was left all alone with nothing after her husband died of cancer. Running a post office for the Chinese community in Houston, she found more meaning in life and redefined her life as a community activist.
Awards
North America Int'l UniFilm Festival, Short Film Nominee, 2020
LA Hollywood Asian Film Festival Nominee, 2020
Credits
Director: Liang Chen
Presented by: Chen Ning, Liang Chen
Cinematographer: Cui Rong, Li Yongjie, Shen Ying
Editor: Cui Rong, Shen Ying
Music: Wu Xiaoping
One-way Ticket（2020，Stage Play）
About
This is the stage play version of the film STOWAWAYS. Based on a true story, it is a play about the lives of Chinese immigrants in the United States. In the early 1990s, a group of underprivileged young people from mainland China chose to cross the ocean and sneak into the US, in hopes of finding gold in America. More than two decades later, have they achieved their dreams in America? How are they getting along?
Awards
Hollywood Gold Awards, Best Original Screenplay Award, 2022
London Movie Awards, Best Original Screenplay Award, 2022
Paris Film Awards, Best Original Screenplay Award, 2022
Production
Screenplay: Christi Chin Mei
Director: Liang Chen
Presented by: Christi Chin Mei, Liang Chen
Theme Song: Long Way to Yesterday
Composer/Lyricist: Liu Wen "Wendy"
Arranger: Wang Dong Music Studio
Artist: Xiong Rulin
一夢一生（2020，Book）
About
This collection of short stories is not just about the lives of contemporary and historical figures, but also about life itself. From poets, scientists, artists to businessmen and politicians,this book covers all aspects of human existence: history, art and food, travel and even outer space. Follow their adventures as they listen for their deepest calls.
Full River Red（2023）
Myth of Love（2021）
Awards
Golden Rooster Awards 2022
Faro Island Film Festival 2022
China Film Critics Association Award 2022
Academy Award of Beijing Film Academy 2022
Iqiyi TV and Movie Awards 2022
Allywood Film Critics Association Awards 2022
Therapy Trip（2019）
Award
Covellite International Film Festival, Best Acting Award, 2019
Shadow（2018）
Awards
Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA 2020
International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA) 2020
Hong Kong Film Awards 2020
Chlotrudis Awards 2020
Austin Film Critics Association 2020
Sound Guild Awards,China 2019
Miami Film Festival 2019
Indiewire Critics' Poll 2019
Golden Rooster Awards 2019
Faro Island Film Festival 2019
Chinese Film Media Awards 2019
China Film Director's Guild Awards 2019
Camerimage 2019
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards 2019
Asian Film Critics Association Awards 2019
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA 2019
Tencent Video TV And Movie Award 2018
Makeup and Hairstyling Guild Awards, CN 2018
London Film Festival 2018
Iqiyi TV and Movie Awards 2018
Golden Horse Film Festival 2018
Chinese American Film Festival (C.A.F.F.) 2018
Canada China International Film Festival (CCIFF) 2018
Dying to Survive（2018）
Awards
Hundred Flowers Awards 2020
Hong Kong Film Awards 2019
Chinese Film Media Awards 2019
Asian Film Critics Association Awards 2019
Asian Film Awards 2019
Montréal World Film Festival 2018
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards 2018
Silk Road International Film Festival China 2018
Iqiyi TV and Movie Awards 2018
Tencent Video TV And Movie Award 2018
My Own Swordman（2011）
Awards
Golden Phoenix Awards, China 2013
Beijing Student Film Festival 2011
武林外傳（2006，TV Series）
Awards
Domestic TV series Ceremony, China 2007
Weibo Awards Ceremony 2006
Nakinagara ikite（2006）
In the Mood for Love（2000）
Awards
Indiewire Critics' Poll 2009
Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards 2009
Turkish Film Critics Association (SIYAD) Awards 2002
SESC Film Festival, Brazil 2002
National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA 2002
Fotogramas de Plata 2002
Chlotrudis Awards 2002
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2002
Bodil Awards 2002
Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards 2002
Valdivia International Film Festival 2001
Uruguayan Film Critics Association 2001
Russian Guild of Film Critics 2001
New York Film Critics, Online 2001
New York Film Critics Circle Awards 2001
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 2001
London Critics Circle Film Awards 2001
Hong Kong Film Awards 2001
Grand Prix de l'UCC 2001
Golden Bauhinia Awards 2001
German Film Awards 2001
Durban International Film Festival 2001
David di Donatello Awards 2001
César Awards, France 2001
British Independent Film Awards 2001
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 2001
Awards Circuit Community Awards 2001
Australian Film Institute 2001
BAFTA Awards 2001
Montréal Festival of New Cinema 2000
Golden Horse Film Festival 2000
Ghent International Film Festival 2000
Faro Island Film Festival 2000
European Film Awards 2000
Cannes Film Festival 2000
Cahiers du Cinéma 2000
Asia-Pacific Film Festival 2000