Tianpeng Yao is graduating today with a PhD in Film Studies from the School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen’s University Belfast, combining research and teaching with building an international profile as a filmmaker and festival organiser.
For Tianpeng Yao, aged 30 from Jiangsu Province, China, the desire to pursue filmmaking as a career began at a young age.
He explained:“For me, cinema has always felt like a world of dreams, where one can create different characters, emotions and stories. I am also very interested in documentary filmmaking, because I see documentary as a form that brings reality and art together. It has the power to preserve many fleeting moments of beauty in the world.”
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During his time studying for his PhD at Queen’s, Tianpeng, successfully organised and hosted three editions of the Eutopia Arthouse Film Festival, with the support of the Queen’s annual fund, which attracted emerging, young filmmakers from around the world to Belfast.
He added: “It provided opportunities for them to screen their work at iconic venues in Belfast including Queen’s Film Theatre, the Film Studio and the Grand Opera House, and share their creative experiences with our Queen’s students, creating valuable opportunities for cultural exchange and learning.”
Alongside his festival organising work, Tianpeng produced a series of award-winning films that achieved international recognition. His work includes Bicycle, selected for the Independent Days International Film Festival in Germany; The Road to Kung Fu, won Best Long Video at the United Nations Chinese Language Day and CMG Overseas Chinese Language Video Festival; Junayde’s Kung Fu Dream, received awards at the Beijing International Film Festival and the “My China Story” International Short Video Competition; and Zen’s Faraway Verse, was named Runner-up for the BAFTSS Practice Research Award.
A major creative highlight during his PhD was creating his practice-based documentary, The Way of Zen. The film was shot in several countries and used audiovisual language, together with the artists’ bodily movements, to give concrete form to the abstract ideas of Zen philosophy.
Tianpeng said: “I really enjoyed the entire filming process, and when the work was completed and screened in different venues, I felt a great sense of achievement.”
Tianpeng also reflected on the strong support he received from his supervisors and School throughout his studies: “My two supervisors, Frank Delaney and Derek Johnston, have been extremely supportive of both my academic research and creative practice. Dr Liang Wang from the Language Centre also generously provided a great deal of guidance, helping me connect with resources and apply for funding.
“The School has also been very supportive, providing spaces such as the Film Studio and the world-leading Sonic Lab, where I screened my experimental documentary ‘The Way of Zen’. The School’s state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, including cameras, lighting and sound recording equipment, were extremely helpful for completing my practice-based research and film projects.”
In addition to his studies, Tianpeng worked as an International Student Ambassador, contributed to cultural activities through the Chinese Culture Programme, and gained valuable teaching experience as a Teaching Assistant on the Broadcast Production module.
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He commented: “One of the most valuable experiences for me was successfully becoming a Teaching Assistant in the School of Arts, English and Languages, where I contributed to the teaching of the Broadcast Production module. This not only gave me additional income but also provided important teaching experience that will be very helpful for my future academic career.”
Looking to the future, Tianpeng plans to pursue a university lecturing position in China while continuing to make documentaries that explore cultures, people and stories from around the world.
He added: “I feel extremely happy and proud to be graduating. Completing my PhD gives me more confidence to move forward in the academic field. For me, graduation is both an ending and a new beginning.”
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