The following day, Zhong Shao and Yu Cheng flew from Pingcheng to the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. Known as the "Venice of the North," this city seemed to exude its unique diversity and inclusivity even in the chilly wind brushing against their cheeks.
Arriving in Amsterdam two days earlier than the rest of the cast and crew of the show "Same or Not," they intended to wander between cities.
The decorative art of Amsterdam stands on its own, encompassing Baroque and modern architectural styles that intertwine to illustrate the architectural history and urban landscape across the city's canal system. They paused at Museum Square, embarking on an immersive journey through the Dutch National Museum, Van Gogh Museum, and the adjacent Stedelijk Museum, also considering ice skating by the frozen artificial pond in front of the museum. They savoured moments of reflection at the Amsterdam Concert Hall, renowned alongside the Vienna Hall, tapped to the beats of independent rock and blues at the Melkweg Concert Hall, and appreciated exclusive European dramas at the Amsterdam City Theatre. Of course, they also lingered at the city's coffee shops on street corners, letting time pass under the sunlight, strolling casually through the famous De Wallen Red Light District.
While the rest of the crew boarded the plane to Amsterdam, Zhong Shao and Yu Cheng were taken to the host hotel.
It was New Year's Eve in their home country.
As soon as they landed in Lu Cheng, without a chance to catch their breath due to jet lag, they were rushed to the hotel by their two male leads, to monitor the premiere of the movie "Same or Not" nationwide and the first showings across 42 cities in China on New Year's Day.
The film premiered at midnight on the first day of the Lunar New Year in all 42 cities across the country. At that moment, it was 7:10 PM in the Netherlands and 1:10 AM the next day in the GMT+8 time zone, with only forty-five minutes left until the end of the movie screenings. The overall attendance rate for the first showing was 75%, a relatively optimistic outcome.
In terms of audience feedback from the preview, the overall response was considered satisfactory, but uncertainties lingered about the movie's performance post-release. It was not that Lu Cheng lacked confidence in directing the film, but rather the excessive investment from Fu Qiao and Song Ling, two conscientious capitalists - it would only start to break even after reaching 1.65 billion in box office revenue.
Following the conclusion of the premiere, the initial audience gradually began to post movie reviews on film forums and social media platforms. Lu Cheng, lounging comfortably, followed real-time movie commentary on the film discussion plaza, with no intention of eating before heading to bed for the night.
On the first day of the new year in the Netherlands, the 35th International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) commenced, spanning eleven days. This year's IDFA featured a reorganised competition section, showcasing only the International Competition and the First Appearance Competition. The International Competition included feature-length documentaries, marking the debut of medium-length documentaries, Dutch documentaries, student documentaries, DocLab (competition), and over ten other awards. Twenty documentaries exceeding 60 minutes in length had their international or European premieres, among them "Divergence". In contrast, the First Appearance Competition at IDFA focused more on experimental and avant-garde documentary films. The jury selected 35 films over 40 minutes in length for international or European premieres, with an independent panel selecting the Envision Award winner.
Many Chinese documentary directors began their professional journeys here. They may have remained relatively unknown but continued pursuing their passion, or they may have changed paths towards avenues more conducive to their personal development.
Unlike most international film festivals that emphasise luxury and sophistication on the red carpet, comfort took precedence for those walking the IDFA red carpet. Zhong Shao, Yu Cheng, and Lu Cheng appeared on the red carpet representing the crew of "Same or Not," dressed in casual suits paired with sports shoes.
The opening film of this year's IDFA is "Four Journeys" directed by Chinese filmmaker Louis Hothothot (Liu Yi), focusing on the destructive impact of the one-child policy implemented in 1979 on a Chinese family. The director attempts to unravel his own complex family history in the form of a documentary, making it a journey filled with surprises and subtle spiritual exploration. The film has also been selected for the Perspective Competition section. Meanwhile, "Divergence" will have its premiere five days later.
Similar to other international film festivals, IDFA incorporates film sales and industry activities as part of its new project structure. This strategic planning was envisioned by Lu Cheng and Zhong Shao when the project "Divergence" was initiated - to participate directly in the film festival, and further sell overseas screening rights. As filmmakers, they are well aware of the crucial role film sales agents play in the entire festival distribution and investment system, especially in international sales.
Once a film project is established as an international sales project, long-term promotional plans on an annual basis are put in place. International sales agents play a significant role as long-term partners, capable of formulating film promotion strategies based on the international film market, recovering costs through international presales, and helping high-quality films secure a spot in A-list film festivals.
On the third day of the festival, the Dutch rights for "Divergence" were acquired by SIS in partnership with WAE for 4.5 million euros.
The presence of Chinese participants at the IDFA in the past was notable, but this year's lineup is particularly exceptional. The festival has attracted not only numerous domestic media reporters onsite but also sparked significant discussions on social media platforms in China. Fans are busy as they find it challenging to balance watching films and staying updated with the festival news in real-time.
As the original author and screenwriter of the currently popular film "Same or Not," Song Chunuan, who has not seen but is aware of the specific content involved in "Divergence" completely disregards the box office success of "Same or Not." Instead, she turns around and speaks out for the documentary film "Divergence" with a rare and serious attitude.
In her post, Song Chunuan stated, "When we talk about documentary films, what are we really discussing? As a form of exposing wounds, it may not always adhere to realism but must subtly contain the truths we always believe in. Behind 'Divergence' are a group of ordinary people, filmmakers, and individuals constantly pushing the boundaries of sensitive topics, sparking societal discussions."
At this moment, on the fourth day of the release of the film "Same or Not," it has already grossed over six billion, with an initial rating of 7.9. The climax of the film has been widely praised by audiences, who exclaim that they can indeed produce epic and unconventional science fiction films.