China is in Italy – Zheng (2020): Interview with director Giacomo Sebastiani and producer Alejandro de la Fuente

Abstract

In this interview, director Sebastiani and producer de la Fuente discuss their short film which investigates the inner world of Zheng, a young Chinese immigrant living in Turin who is responsible for managing newly arrived migrants from China. They describe the inspiration for this film, its mode of expression and the challenges surrounding its creation, including the selection of actors, direction in a foreign language and funding of the project. This interview considers the evolution of Chinese–Italian collaboration in filmmaking against the background of Zheng’s tale of marginalization in a strange land.