Futurescape Founders Present ECHO at Cannes Film Festival

Introduction

The co-founders of Futurescape and the directors and producers of the Chinese short film ECHO were officially invited to the 79th Cannes Film Festival. As Chinese film industry representatives, they attended red carpet premieres, official screenings, and international industry exchanges, showcasing the vitality of Chinese cultural expression on the global stage.

Main Content

In May 2026, Futurescape co-founders Juliette Zhuo and Neil Zhang, together with the Chinese short film ECHO, participated in official Cannes Film Festival industry activities and film premieres, representing the strength of Chinese film creation on the international stage.

During the festival, Futurescape co-founders and ECHO directors Juliette Zhuo and Neil Zhang attended official premieres and a range of industry events organized by the FESTIVAL DE CANNES SÉLECTION OFFICIELLE.

Neil Zhang, as the only Chinese film industry representative among delegates from fifteen countries, delivered a keynote at the Cannes Next session.

Neil Zhang stated: “In an age of scarce attention, we will focus on IP creation in short films, striving for an ideal balance between protecting artistic creators’ rights and fostering technological innovation. We look forward to seeing more Chinese film industry representatives on the global stage next year.”

Additionally, the director duo attended SFC Short Film Corner expert talks and industry exchanges. They were specially invited to the FESTIVAL DE CANNES COMPÉTITION IMMERSIVE unit, observing VR film screenings and participating in industry dialogues on cutting-edge visual technologies and immersive storytelling. They engaged in in-depth discussions on short film platform resources, young creator talent programs, international festival collaboration, and global dissemination opportunities for short film creation.

The participation of Juliette Zhuo and Neil Zhang at the Cannes Film Festival not only highlights the sustained international influence of the Chinese film industry but also establishes an open channel for cultural exchange and cooperation between Chinese cultural expression and the global film community.

Official Activity Highlights

* FESTIVAL DE CANNES SÉLECTION OFFICIELLE: Premieres and official screenings

* Cannes Classic: China‘s Taiwan film The Dull-Ice Flower (鲁冰花) classic restoration screening

* Cannes Première: French film WHEN THE NIGHT FALLS world premiere at Cannes

* Red Carpet Premieres: GARANCE, HER PRIVATE HELL, AMARGA NAVIDAD

* Partner Program Short Film Collection Screenings

* Compétition Immersive VR Experience: YELLOWFIN

* Cannes Next “Global Show”: Only Chinese industry representative among fifteen countries

 

The short film ECHO, as an SFC-selected entry, also gained international attention through Futurescape’s official activities and industry interactions. The film focuses on China’s Kazakh minority — the “people on horseback” — portraying the lives and perspectives of three generations to explore the nuanced relationship between modern humans and social order. The work echoes the United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the “International Year of Pastoralists and Livestock” and employs a unique visual language to depict minority lifestyles, cultural spirit, and harmony between humans and nature, demonstrating the artistic exploration and cultural expression of China’s emerging directors.

 

Highlights of the Short Film ECHO

* Focuses on the Kazakh minority — the “people on horseback”

* Explores modern human relationships with social order through three generational perspectives

* Gained international exposure through official Futurescape events as an SFC-selected short

* Showcases the artistic exploration and cultural expression of China’s emerging directors

* Closely aligned with the UN’s “2026 International Year of Pastoralists and Livestock”

For more international updates on the short film ECHO and Futurescape, please follow the official WeChat account: Futurescape Tomorrow Plan