For filmmakers from Latin America, Europe, Africa, North America, and Australia, “understanding Chinese cinema” has never been a simple task. Some have seen Chinese short dramas trending in their home countries. Others have come across the name “Hengdian” on social media. A few have friends who once worked on co-productions in China. So last weekend, creatives, producers, directors, actors, and scholars from over a dozen countries gathered in Hengdian—a place that is both a filming site and an industrial hub.
The two-day, one-night International Short Drama & Cross-Cultural Film Cooperation Exchange was jointly organized by Hengdian World Studios’ International Business Department and Dalynn Studio. Guests and film practitioners from across the globe—including Spain, Uruguay, the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Serbia, Russia, and Belarus—gathered in Hengdian to engage in immersive site visits, meaningful dialogue, and a truly cross-cultural exchange.
The journey began at Hengdian’s historical film base, where participants were so captivated that they lingered longer than planned. At the newly constructed underwater stage, Jorj Auré —a singer and voice actress from South Africa—exclaimed: “I want to shoot a music video here, it would look amazing!” Inside the virtual production studio, most guests experienced this level of digital filmmaking for the first time, marveling at the scale and innovation of Chinese film technology.
That evening, the group visited the Guangzhou Street Night Show. Though many couldn’t understand the spoken lines, the live atmosphere swept them into singing, dancing, and laughter. The following day’s tours to Huaxia Cultural Park and Green Mango Short Drama Base allowed the guests to witness real production crews in action—getting a firsthand look at the speed, precision, and intensity of short drama production in China.
What made the exchange even more meaningful were the surprising personal connections uncovered along the way: Mila, a photographer from Belarus, was visiting Hengdian for the first time—but had heard about it 7 or 8 years ago from a friend involved in a co-production here. Sarie, an American actress, was stunned to realize that a long-time online friend was actually a member in the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance. They finally met in person at the event. And Richard, a South African English-language content creator and golf enthusiast, lit up when he saw a banner for the “Hengdian International Golf Elite Open.” He said, “I hope to join one day—even as a volunteer!”
On the morning of May 25, the event culminated in the Hengdian Film Forum · Special Edition, with the theme: “The Future of Global Short Drama and Cross-Cultural Film Collaboration.” Speakers from China, Spain, Uruguay, South Africa, and Serbia shared insights spanning production models, creative development, co-production structures, and cultural storytelling strategies.
The forum included: A keynote by the General Manager of Hengdian International Business Department, outlining Hengdian’s evolution into a global hub for short drama.A presentation from Hengdian Talent Agency, discussing strategies for managing and collaborating with international actors.Dalynn Studio, highlighting the vast potential of China–Latin America collaboration. South African director Adriaan, whose short drama Foreign Like Me sparked reflection on cultural identity and global empathy.Serbian producer Leonida, who shared strategies for international distribution of psychological thrillers.Chinese director Wei Xu, who explored how to break narrative boundaries when short dramas “meet the world.”Winnie Tang, from SpringReel, and Li Mo, from HuntMobi, offered insights into China’s short drama success—from content creation to overseas expansion—highlighting the limitless possibilities of “short drama + globalization.”Finally, the signing of a strategic MOU between Hengdian World Studios and Dalynn Studio marked the formal beginning of future collaborations in co-production and creative exchange between China and Latin America.
As Dalynn Studio founder Mary said:“We are proud of our first project together. This is just the beginning. We will harvest abundant results and co-production projects very soon.”
Hengdian is no longer just a filming location—it is a meeting place. A place where creators from different cultures can see each other, understand each other, and co-create stories together. This is not the end of a project. It is the start of a new chapter.
In Hengdian, co-production is more than cooperation. It’s connection. Going global is more than expansion. It’s resonance.
