Chinese directorial debut earns Cannes applause

Actress-turned-filmmaker Tian Hairong marked her directorial debut with a special screening of My World Without Me on May 14 during the China Film Global Promotion Event at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in France.

Tian attended the event alongside executive producer Zhang Hanyu, actress Tian Haiyan, cinematographer Wang Weihua and original song composer Amanda. Following the screening, the creative team joined discussions with international filmmakers, critics and audiences.

The Cannes screening marked the film's important international debut, using one of the world's most influential cinema platforms to present a contemporary Chinese story rooted in humanistic reflection. During post-screening exchanges, directors, screenwriters, Sinologists and scholars of Chinese cinema discussed the film's exploration of loneliness, emotional pressure and resilience in modern society.

Rather than relying on dramatic twists or sensational storytelling, My World Without Me adopts a restrained and poetic narrative style. The film focuses on people living with "hidden depression" — individuals who appear calm and composed outwardly while quietly struggling with emotional exhaustion and identity crises beneath the surface.

For Tian Hairong, who stepped behind the camera after nearly three decades in the entertainment industry, the project was a deeply personal creative journey. She said the film took almost seven years to complete.

"Life itself is such a profound subject that it deserves time and reverence," she said during the event. She added that the film was intended not to preach to audiences, but to foster empathy, allowing viewers to "see themselves, gain understanding and find healing" through the story.

Actor-turned-filmmaker Zhang, serving as executive producer for the first time in his career, praised Tian Hairong's artistic vision and sensitivity in handling the subject. He noted that portraying depression onscreen without exaggeration is especially challenging because many people enduring emotional struggles often appear cheerful in daily life.

International guests also responded warmly to the film. Italian Sinologist and a specialist in Chinese cinema, Luisa Prudentino, praised its emotional sincerity and cross-cultural resonance, while French director Frederic Auburtin commended the work for its artistic expression and humanistic spirit.