China-US co-produced documentary "DEAR KULIANG" screened in Los Angeles

Producer Zhang Yuehan speaks during the screening of the documentary "DEAR KULIANG" at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, the United States, Nov. 7, 2025. The China-U.S. co-produced documentary, "DEAR KULIANG," premiered in the United States with a screening in Los Angeles on Friday, drawing an audience of American university teachers, students and representatives from various community groups.(Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua)

The China-U.S. co-produced documentary, "DEAR KULIANG," premiered in the United States with a screening in Los Angeles on Friday, drawing an audience of American university teachers, students and representatives from various community groups.

The screening, held at Loyola Marymount University, was part of the 21st Chinese American Film Festival and the Chinese American Television Festival, which opened on Thursday.

Friday's event also marked a stop on the roadshow titled "Capture the Moments of Friendship: a Cinematic Record of China-U.S. Relations," jointly organized by a group of film companies, publishers and universities from the two countries.

The 50-minute documentary tells a cross-cultural story rooted in Kuliang, in China's Fujian Province -- a place long known for the warm bonds formed between American residents and local Chinese communities. Following American high school student Holly as she travels to China to trace her family history, the film revisits the century-old Kuliang story through both historical and contemporary perspectives.

The production took nearly two years and was filmed at multiple locations across China and the United States.

Producer Zhang Yuehan said the documentary captures Holly's journey to China to rediscover her family's past, reviving historical moments and underscoring the human warmth that has sustained China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges for generations.

Victoria Popescu, a junior at Loyola Marymount University, told Xinhua that the documentary opened her eyes to the depth of cross-cultural connections.

"The documentary was fascinating. Seeing an American girl travel to China to explore her family's roots showed how deep the connections between the two cultures go," Popescu said.

"Cross-cultural connections are vital. The more we meet and talk with people from different backgrounds, the more we all grow," Popescu added.

Eric Johnston, a U.S. middle school teacher and researcher on Kuliang culture, said the story reflected enduring ties between communities in both countries.

"These connections go back more than a century," he said, adding that he has brought American students to Fuzhou, capital of Fujian Province, for cultural exchanges to help young people better understand these shared memories.

James Su, chairman of EDI Media Inc. and organizer of the Chinese American Film Festival and the Chinese American Television Festival, voiced hope that the documentary would help deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both countries.

Founded in 2005, the annual festivals were traditionally held in Los Angeles every November. The Los Angeles County Office has designated November as "Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American Television Festival Month."

A series of panels was held during the festivals, bringing together professionals from China and the United States to share insights and explore opportunities for cooperation.

Eric Johnston, a U.S. middle school teacher and researcher on Kuliang culture, receives an interview during the screening of the documentary "DEAR KULIANG" at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, the United States, Nov. 7, 2025. The China-U.S. co-produced documentary, "DEAR KULIANG," premiered in the United States with a screening in Los Angeles on Friday, drawing an audience of American university teachers, students and representatives from various community groups. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua)