Golden Angel Award Winner Emily Chen shares story of promises that inspired "TEN YEARS BETWEEN US"

At the recently concluded 21st Chinese American TV Festival, an 18-year-old Chinese teenage director captured the spotlight. Chen Yinuo (Emily Chen), a student from Branksome Hall in Canada won the “Best Web Documentary” Award for her film “TEN YEARS BETWEEN US” making her the youngest winner in this year’s festival.

A Ten-Year Promise Fulfilled Through the Lens

“TEN YEARS BETWEEN US” documents Chen’s heartwarming journey to reconnect with more than 20 au pair “sisters” who lived with her family during her childhood. From Colombia, Germany, South Africa to the United States, these “sisters” from over ten countries turned names on a map into genuine friendships. Through carefully woven archival footage spanning more than a decade, the film beautifully intertwines past and present, portraying an emotional reunion that transcends culture and time.

She shared in an interview, “My name ‘Yinuo’ means ‘a promise as valuable as gold.’ This film is how I’ve fulfilled my childhood promise. I told my sisters that once I grew up, I would find them. Now, that promise has finally been realized through the lens of my camera.”

Unique Upbringing Shapes Multicultural Perspective

Chen’s personal growth story is remarkable in itself. From the age of five, her family openly hosted over 20 au pairs from around the world. “They didn’t just teach me languages; they taught me how to see the world from different perspectives.” This unique upbringing not only allowed her to master both Chinese and English but also enabled her to communicate in French and Latin, cultivating a distinctive capacity for cross-cultural understanding.

At just five years old, she starred in “When a Peking Family Meets an Au Pair,” a film based on her life, winning acting awards at international film festivals in Canada, France, and the UK. Now, at 18, she has become the youngest member of the China Film Critics Association, a bilingual writer published in multiple authoritative media outlets, and a rising director attracting widespread attention.

Multiple Talents Demonstrating Exceptional Ability

Beyond directing, Chen has demonstrated remarkable talent across multiple artistic domains. She has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, participated in “therapeutic clowning” programs to help special needs groups, and co-translated the work of a renowned American dramatist, “Discovering the Clown.” Her personal art designs not only hold intellectual property rights but have also gained market recognition. These diverse experiences have provided unique nourishment for her creative work.

Connecting World Through Personal Stories

“TEN YEARS BETWEEN US” has been selected as a “Beijing Excellence Project.” It will premiere simultaneously on iQIYI and Tencent Video at 6:00 PM Beijing Time on November 20, with new episodes released every Thursday at 6:00 PM. She plans to sustain this grassroots exchange initiative and develop it into a high-quality IP. From child star to director, from actress to writer, Chen Yinuo – through her multiple identities and cross-cultural background – offers a vivid example of global cultural exchange. This young director is using her unique approach to make the world more closely connected.

Chen is an exceptional cross-cultural ambassador who aims to share more remarkable works that connect the world through her unique perspective and heartfelt storytelling.