Chinese Consul General Guo Shaochun Hosts ‘Chinese American Filmmakers Night,’ Bringing Hollywood and Chinese Film Communities Together

LAPost/Los Angeles, CA (November 11, 2026) — By: Richard Ren/LAPost

With the film industries of China and the United States continuing to explore opportunities for cultural and professional exchange, the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles hosted “Chinese American Filmmakers Night” on Nov. 11 at the official residence of Consul General Ambassador Guo Shaochun. Nearly 100 guests attended, including filmmakers and actors from China in town for the 22nd Chinese American Film Festival, as well as Hollywood producers, screenwriters, industry representatives and members of the Los Angeles film community.

Ambassador Guo and his wife, Wang Wei, welcomed the guests as hosts, while Deputy Consul General Huang Hongjiang served as the evening’s emcee.

The gathering brought together prominent figures from both sides of the Pacific, underscoring the consulate’s continued commitment to film and cultural exchange. In his remarks, Guo described cinema as a distinctive bridge between cultures and emphasized that closer cooperation between the world’s two largest film markets serves both the shared understanding reached by the two countries’ leaders and the development interests of their respective film industries.

Among those attending were Janet Yang, the former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; a representative of the Writers Guild of America West’s international affairs committee; Chinese actors Song Jia, Lay Zhang and Peng Yuchang; Chinese American filmmaker Dayyan Eng (Wu Shixian); and actress Gong Beibi. The evening combined the formality of a diplomatic reception with the more relaxed atmosphere of an industry gathering. Guo also took an active role in introducing Chinese talent to American film professionals.

Guo Shaochun: Cinema Remains a Bridge Across Cultures

Welcoming guests to his official residence, Guo said he was delighted to bring together friends from the Chinese and American film industries during the autumn season to celebrate their longstanding friendship.

He described film as a unique vehicle for cultural exchange, capable of enriching dialogue, allowing audiences in different countries to connect through compelling stories and building bridges between people across national borders.

Over the years, he said, exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and American film industries have given audiences in both countries more opportunities to understand one another, develop emotional connections and deepen mutual understanding.

Guo expressed his appreciation to those who have devoted their efforts to sustaining these exchanges.

Turning to the industry’s commercial and collaborative potential, Guo noted that China and the United States are the world’s two largest film markets. Strengthening ties between their film communities, he said, is consistent with the important understandings reached by the two countries’ leaders and serves the development needs of both industries.

He expressed hope that American audiences would have more opportunities to discover a real, respectable and endearing China through Chinese films, while Chinese audiences could gain a deeper understanding of the United States and its people through outstanding American productions.

The consulate, Guo said, would continue to support film and television exchanges, facilitate engagement between industry professionals and provide services to encourage further cooperation.

He expressed confidence that, with continued support from both sides, Chinese-American film collaboration could produce more substantial results, strengthen friendship between the two peoples and create new opportunities for mutual benefit.

His remarks positioned cinema not simply as an industry, but as a channel for people-to-people engagement at a time when cultural dialogue remains particularly important.

Hollywood Filmmakers See Opportunities for Continued Collaboration

Bob Underwood, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Writers Guild of America West, spoke on behalf of the American film community, thanking Guo and the consulate for hosting the reception.

Underwood noted that a significant segment of American society respects people from other countries and different cultural backgrounds, expressing optimism about opportunities to move forward through filmmaking and mutually beneficial trade.

He also credited James Su, chairman of the Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American Television Festival, for helping sustain cultural and storytelling connections between the two countries through some of the more challenging periods in their relationship over the past two decades.

Underwood identified environmental challenges and artificial intelligence as two areas where China and the United States share important concerns. While both present risks, he said, they also offer opportunities for cooperation.

He pointed particularly to China’s progress in clean energy, saying its achievements had exceeded earlier expectations. He expressed hope that the two countries could work together as equal partners to address shared challenges and said he looked forward to contributing through film, television and other creative collaborations.

Janet Yang, the Chinese American producer who served two consecutive terms as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, also addressed the gathering.

Yang made history as the first Chinese American and Asian American to lead the organization behind the Academy Awards. During her remarks, she reflected on the early stages of her career, which began with bringing Chinese cinema to North American audiences.

That experience, she said, opened the door to a range of international opportunities, including working with Steven Spielberg in Shanghai and learning from some of the industry’s most accomplished professionals.

Yang described film as an important cultural bridge and said she valued opportunities to bring together people committed to strengthening connections between China and the United States.

She thanked the consulate for creating a space for the two film communities to meet and expressed hope that she could continue playing a role in connecting filmmakers across generations and national boundaries.

Chinese Stars and Hollywood Professionals Connect at the Consul General’s Residence

Among the Chinese entertainment figures attending were actress Song Jia, who had just arrived in Los Angeles from Europe; actor and singer Lay Zhang, currently studying in Los Angeles; and actor Peng Yuchang, who traveled to the city specifically for the 22nd Chinese American Film Festival.

Chinese American filmmaker Dayyan Eng and actress Gong Beibi were also among the invited guests.

Gong and Deputy Consul General Huang Hongjiang, both originally from Fujian province, shared a particularly personal moment during the reception, exchanging greetings in Minnan, a regional language spoken in southern Fujian and among communities with Fujian roots. Their conversation added a familiar touch of hometown connection to an evening centered on international cultural exchange.

For Lay Zhang, the invitation carried particular significance. Currently pursuing studies in Los Angeles, Zhang has been balancing his academic commitments with an established international entertainment career. A former member of the K-pop group EXO, he has since developed a solo career as a singer, songwriter, dancer, actor and producer, releasing music in both Chinese and English and building an international following. His screen credits include The Mystic Nine, The Golden Eyes and Crime Crackdown.

To attend the consulate’s event, Zhang arranged his schedule to complete his coursework beforehand and arrived at the residence on time in support of the cultural exchange initiative.

Peng Yuchang, meanwhile, has emerged as one of China’s notable young actors, earning recognition for his performances in films including An Elephant Sitting Still and Viva La Vida. He received a Best Actor nomination at the 2019 Golden Rooster Awards for his work in The Prince of Tennis, further establishing his profile among the new generation of Chinese performers.

The two actors arrived at the residence at nearly the same time. Longtime friends who previously worked together, they exchanged greetings upon meeting. Zhang, carrying a handheld camera, asked Peng whether he could film some footage of him at the event. Peng readily agreed, and the two entered the residence together.

Inside, Guo and his wife warmly welcomed the guests. The consul general spoke with Zhang on several occasions, demonstrating particular interest in the young actor’s participation.

At one point, Guo personally accompanied Zhang to the table of an American film production company executive and introduced him, creating an opportunity for direct contact between the Chinese performer and a Hollywood industry representative.

The gesture reflected a practical dimension of the evening’s cultural diplomacy. Beyond welcoming guests and facilitating conversation, Guo actively helped create connections between Chinese entertainment professionals and American industry figures.

Zhang also spent extended periods speaking with several American filmmakers. He communicated comfortably in English, demonstrating his ability to engage with international industry professionals beyond his work as a performer.

For an artist balancing academic life in Los Angeles with an international entertainment career, the reception offered an opportunity to participate in the film community in a different capacity. His decision to complete his coursework before attending, followed by his conversations with Hollywood professionals, revealed another side of the performer beyond the stage and screen.

The presence of producers, production company executives and representatives of film industry organizations made the gathering more than a social event during festival week. It provided a setting for direct professional engagement between the two film communities.

From Film Festival to Diplomatic Residence: Building Bridges Across the Pacific

During the evening’s program, Deputy Consul General Huang also spoke about the role of cinema and television in bringing the two countries closer.

He described film and television as bridges across the Pacific that can strengthen connections between the Chinese and American peoples. He also highlighted artificial intelligence as a shared challenge, emphasizing the importance of working together to harness its benefits while addressing its potential risks.

From Guo’s opening remarks to the responses from American film industry representatives and Janet Yang, the evening’s conversations touched on film markets, cultural communication, international cooperation and emerging technologies.

The Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American Television Festival provide a platform for Chinese films, television productions and creative professionals to reach American audiences. The consulate’s reception extended that exchange beyond screenings and award ceremonies, creating opportunities for industry professionals to meet directly and explore potential collaborations.

As the film business becomes increasingly international and artificial intelligence reshapes the creative landscape, filmmakers in China and the United States face shared challenges involving technology, markets and international distribution. At the same time, cross-cultural storytelling and global audience engagement continue to present new possibilities.

Guo’s central message was that cinema can help people in both countries better understand one another. For the filmmakers and entertainment professionals gathered at his residence, the evening offered more than a festive gathering during film festival week. It provided a setting in which professional relationships could develop and new avenues for cooperation could be explored.

The reception concluded with dinner and informal conversations among guests, bringing the evening to a close in a relaxed and cordial atmosphere.