From Silence to Awakening: The Way Filmmaker and Writer Mengge Qin Illuminates the Histories and Voices of

      As a Chinese female creator, Mengge Qin distinguishes herself as both a writer and filmmaker with a unique narrative style. Simultaneously working as a screenwriter, novelist, director, and producer, she has made a name for herself in the literary and international film sectors. Her storytelling is characterized by emotional sharpness and social consciousness, highlighting the experiences of immigrants, women, and laborers for a wider audience. In her work, the intersections of historical changes, identity struggles, and journeys of female empowerment come together to create a narrative style that is distinctly hers.

      “I want those who refuse to be silent to be seen again.” This sentiment marks the start of her creative path and resonates throughout her entire body of work.

      Transforming Overlooked Histories into Central Narratives

      Qin’s writing consistently uncovers the tensions lurking in silence. She scrutinizes the emotional weights borne by women within family, labor, and cultural frameworks, while also delving into the psychological struggles of immigrant communities dealing with displacement and survival.

      Her feature screenplay and novel, The Stilled, The Unleashed, serve as prime examples of this approach. The project focuses on the experiences and collective resistance of Chinese garment workers in New York's Chinatown on June 24, 1982. To ensure historical accuracy and emotional authenticity, Qin delved into original strike archives, analyzed period newspapers, and researched firsthand accounts from women who experienced that time. In doing so, she brings neglected details to the forefront of the narrative.

      “They were not born fearless. They were pushed by circumstances to the point where awakening became necessary,” Qin explains. In her narrative, women never play secondary roles; they are the main forces that drive the story forward and shape their own fates.

      A Style That Is Subtle, Sharp, and Structurally Innovative

      Qin’s work is noted for blending literary richness and visual clarity. She adeptly balances emotion with realism, ensuring that each instance of silence, fear, or defiance carries significance. Her storytelling employs a hybrid language of literature and cinema. She utilizes visual details to craft atmosphere, emotional truths to advance her characters' journeys, and specific moments to highlight the social structures at play. This distinctive style has garnered international acclaim.

      One of her notable accomplishments is the novel Three Hearts, for which she received the ScreenCraft Cinematic Prose Competition 2025 award. This prestigious accolade recognizes exceptional cinematic literature from across the globe. Her win showcases her skill in narrative design, emotional connection, and cinematic vision. Additionally, her screenplays have received recognition in several prestigious competitions, including:

      - The Stilled, The Unleashed: Austin Film Festival Script Competition

      - The Rising: PAGE International Screenwriting Awards

      - Gonzo: ScreenCraft TV Pilot Script Competition and Filmmatic Sci Fi and Fantasy Awards

      Her short films have also been well-received. Her self-written and directed film “Butterfly” was selected by the USA Film Festival, Venice Shorts Film Awards, Indie X Film Festival, among others, and it earned several honors at The Tagore International Film Festival.

      A still from the film “Greenhouse”

      Her short film “Greenhouse” garnered multiple awards at the South Film and Arts Academy Festival and was selected by the Crown Wood International Film Festival and various other international festivals. Both films received high praise from judges and industry professionals for their emotional depth and visual clarity.

      A still from the film “Butterfly”

      Furthermore, she worked as a producer on the short film “Nomad,” where she was actively involved in key creative processes such as script selection, story discussions, and revisions. The film was officially selected and screened at the Palm Springs International ShortFest 2024, where she attended the premiere and participated in an on-stage interview. In 2025, “Nomad” was again named an Official Selection at the Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF) and was screened at Film at Lincoln Center in New York, with her presence requested at the premiere. Additionally, “Nomad” was officially selected and featured on the international streaming platform LABOCINE.

      A still from the film “Nomad”

      The ongoing accumulation of international screenings and related accolades underscores the growing impact of her work within the global film community, establishing her as an emerging filmmaker with both creative depth and strong cross-cultural storytelling abilities.

      An Interdisciplinary Pathway that Cultivates a Unique Creative Language

      Unlike many screenwriters or novelists, Qin’s artistic journey is distinctly interdisciplinary. Prior to joining Columbia University’s MFA Screenwriting program, she studied Fine Art (BA) at Central Saint Martins and the University of the Arts London and Digital Direction (MA) at the Royal College of Art. Her fine art education fostered a heightened awareness of visual aesthetics. Her digital media background introduced her to experimental and installation-based techniques. Her screenwriting training emphasized precision, narrative structure, and dramatic intention. Consequently, her storytelling features a rare blend of qualities: the profundity of literature, the