By Katherine Turner
As the film industry increasingly turns its attention to female narratives, editor Zhen Long has rapidly emerged as a leading figure in the global film scene, thanks to her exceptional editing skills and unique artistic vision. In the creation of the short series Say You Remember, Say You Love and the short film Night-Blooming Cereus, Zhen Long not only demonstrated outstanding technical abilities but also garnered global recognition and respect for her innovative editing techniques and distinctive female perspective.
Photo Courtesy: Zhen Long
In 2024, Zhen Long’s short series Say You Remember, Say You Love became a surprise success in the film market. Premiering in 2024, the series tells the complex emotional story of Elizabeth and her first love, Jason. Despite Jason’s past mistakes that led to Elizabeth’s family’s financial ruin, she ultimately cannot resist reconnecting with him. Zhen Long’s editing work in the series, particularly her use of nonlinear storytelling and fragmented emotional structure, showcases her ability to precisely capture emotional tension. Through her deft editing, she reveals the characters’ inner struggles as they navigate love and pain, enhancing the emotional conflict with greater depth and complexity.
The short series not only successfully captured the subtle emotional shifts of its female characters but also achieved significant commercial success. Since its premiere in August 2024, Say You Remember, Say You Love quickly garnered widespread attention, surpassing 4.93 million views and generating over $10 million in sales. This success not only proves the market potential of female-driven narratives but also affirms Zhen Long’s exceptional abilities in editing, particularly in her mastery of emotional expression and the handling of complex narrative structures.
Photo Courtesy: Zhen Long
However, Zhen Long’s accomplishments go far beyond commercial success. Her short film Night-Blooming Cereus, released in 2021, has attracted widespread attention in the industry. The film tells the story of a young Broadway actress who, after witnessing the mysterious death of the lead actor, conceals the truth and uses the opportunity to quickly rise to stardom. This film, blending emotional depth with suspense, showcases complex character psychology and moral dilemmas. Zhen Long’s precise editing skills create a tight and suspenseful rhythm, enhancing the film’s emotional and narrative tension.
In 2021, Zhen Long’s editing work on Night-Blooming Cereus won the Audi Short Film Award at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival, one of the most respected film festivals globally. Winning an award at the Berlin Film Festival, which is often seen as a vanguard of cinematic art and future trends, elevated Zhen Long’s reputation and opened doors for her within the international film industry, further solidifying her important role in film production.
Subsequently, the film received the Bronze Award at WorldFest Houston in 2022. WorldFest Houston, one of the oldest independent film festivals in the world, has over fifty years of history and is dedicated to discovering and supporting independent filmmakers. Known for its emphasis on innovative artistic expressions and groundbreaking styles, WorldFest Houston recognized Zhen Long’s distinctive editing, which skillfully balanced the film’s pacing and emotional delivery while delving deep into the inner world of the characters.
Moreover, Night-Blooming Cereus was nominated for Best Short Film at the Dances With Films festival, one of the largest independent film festivals in Los Angeles. Named by Moviemaker Magazine as one of the “2024 Coolest Film Festivals” and ranked among the “Top 10 North American Film Festivals” by USA Today, Dances With Films is dedicated to showcasing independent filmmakers who break traditional creative molds. At this festival, Zhen Long’s work garnered industry acclaim for its sophisticated editing and emotional depth, attracting wider attention and recognition.
In addition, Night-Blooming Cereus won the Audience Award at the Boston Independent Film Festival, received the Best Short Film Score Award at the Burbank International Film Festival, and was featured at other notable international festivals such as the IndieX Film Festival (Annual Award), Catalina Film Festival (Best Short Film Nominee), and World Film Carnival, Singapore (Best Producer Award). Each award and nomination highlights Zhen Long’s extraordinary achievements in international filmmaking and underscores the artistic quality and market acceptance of her work.
Photo Courtesy: Zhen Long
Zhen Long’s films have not only garnered widespread recognition for their artistic merit but have also left a profound impact on the global film industry. Her precise editing skills and unique understanding of female narratives have successfully conveyed complex emotions and multiple layers of character psychology. From the nonlinear storytelling in Say You Remember, Say You Love to the suspenseful tension in Night-Blooming Cereus, Zhen Long has elevated the art of editing to new heights, mastering the balance between emotional depth and rhythm. Her works have not only won multiple international film festival awards but also brought a richer perspective and new possibilities to the world of filmmaking, establishing her as a leader in contemporary film editing.
As the focus on female narratives continues to grow, Zhen Long is pushing the boundaries of the film industry with her unique artistic style and exceptional editing abilities. Her work not only influences modern film editing techniques but also opens new avenues for the expression of female perspectives and the depiction of emotional complexity in cinema.
This article, written by Katherine Turner, was published by Julian James.