Beyond the Frame | AFCT Outstanding Graduate Interview Series 3

In this era of light, motion, and imagination, graduates from the Academy of Film and Creative Technology at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University are stepping boldly onto the global stage.

With creativity and determination, they have secured offers from some of the world’s leading art and media institutions— including University of Cambridge, Columbia University, University of Cambridge, the American Film Institute, Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, University of the Arts London, Glasgow School of Art, School of Visual Arts, Goldsmiths, Teesside University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London, University of Edinburgh and the University of Manchester, and more—spanning fields such as film production, animation, game design, communication and cultural studies, interaction design, and computer arts.

In the Beyond the Frame interview series, we feature outstanding students from our four key programmes: Digital Media Arts, Filmmaking, TV Production, and Arts, Technology and Entertainment.

How did they find their paths, shape their portfolios, and win global recognition? The stories of their growth and choice are waiting to be discovered.

1.Yanqi He

Q&A：

• What inspired you to choose this programme in the first place?
• During the pandemic, I discovered a strong sense of belonging in digital media arts while in high school. Whether it was generative visuals or sound design, I could quickly grasp and immerse myself in them. Upon entering XJTLU, I naturally chose the Digital Media Arts programme.
• In your view, what stands out the most about your programme? Any favourite modules or lecturers?
• The most distinctive feature of our major is its broad curriculum. Thus, each student has unique interests and strengths. Viewing others’ works always brings new inspiration. I particularly appreciate David William Strang and Dane Taylor, both sound experts. David focuses more on the conceptual aspects and sonic arts, while Dane provides professional technical guidance and is always enthusiastic and supportive.
• Could you share some tips or reflections on your postgraduate application journey?
• I would say the most important thing is to recognize that applying for graduate school is a two-way selection process, hence you need to spend loads of time researching various programme’s past students’ work and curricula. If you find that a programme's style closely matches yours, your chances of admission increase significantly.
• What are your academic or career plans for the future?
• I prefer not to rush into the office immediately after graduation, so applying for graduate programmes is more like an “buffer period”, during which I can focus more on my personal projects and collaborate with others to expand my network. CalArts’ program has a small cohort (around 10 students), with a curriculum centered on individual projects. In contrast, NYU’s ITP program admits hundreds of students annually, and some introverted students like me may not get any chances to get to know each other very well.
• Sum up your four years at XJTLU in three key words – and don’t forget to share a piece of advice for your juniors!
• Boldness, Experimentation, Introspection.
• Step boldly beyond your comfort zone. Keep experimenting with new technologies and ideas, then refine them through constant reflection. After all these trials and errors, the raw inspiration will eventually turn into unique works.

2.Ziqi Li

Name: Ziqi Li

Programme: Filmmaking

Received offers：

UCL--Ethnographic and Documentary Film (Practical)

University of Warwick--Drama and Theatre Education

City University of Hong Kong--Creative Media

Q&A：

• What inspired you to choose this programme in the first place?
• I’ve loved anime since childhood, especially the storyboarding and narrative aspects. Later, I discovered film is a more comprehensive form of artistic expression, which inspired me to study it seriously.
• In your view, what stands out the most about your programme? Any favourite modules or lecturers?
• This programme is highly practical, with lots of filming tasks each year that help us build experience. I especially love Tracy’s documentary class.
• Could you share some tips or reflections on your postgraduate application journey?
• I mainly applied for graduate school using my coursework as portfolio material. I realized that the curriculum is very practical, and nearly every assignment can be transformed into valuable application content.
• What are your academic or career plans for the future?
• I plan to further my studies in film, whether through a postgraduate programme or in creative work. I aim to keep refining my artistic expression and creative thinking.
• Sum up your four years at XJTLU in three key words – and don’t forget to share a piece of advice for your juniors!
• Bitter-sweet, fulfilling, and growth.

  I suggest making the most of every practical opportunity, finding your direction early, and building a strong portfolio and skillset over time.

   

3.Minqi Zhao

Q&A：

• What inspired you to choose this programme in the first place?
• Because I like to take photos and photography, and I also edit some videos of celebrities. Compared to movies, I usually pay more attention to variety shows and TV dramas, and after learning about the courses and seeing the professional studio, I became very interested and thought it would be interesting to produce variety shows and TV dramas, so I had no choice but to attend the interview and enter the TVP programme!
• In your view, what stands out the most about your programme? Any favourite modules or lecturers?
• In tvp, I think the most prominent feature is the diversity of the curriculum. First of all, during our study in the studio, we take on different positions, like director, producer, camera, lighting, TD, and each of us goes into a different position to learn, which also gives me the knowledge of planning, development, production techniques, and marketing. Secondly, our programme keeps up with current events, such as scriptwriting and filming and production of short plays, and critical studies of AI in social media. These courses equip students with excellent professional skills and a keen awareness of current social trends.

  My favorite course was FTA305 Collaborate Project, which involved working with students from other programmes to create a project. Our group created an art installation on the theme of anti-animal cruelty. We communicated with the teacher and implemented the creative ideas into the installation step by step, which was my first time to create an installation exhibition, and it was also the most rewarding one.

  I am very thankful and fond of Mr Yijun Guo during my study at TVP. In his class, I learned a lot of knowledge as well as practical skills. When I encountered problems in the programme, he would always give me patient feedback and help. Even when he is busy, he still finds time to teach, which is very beneficial.
• Could you share some tips or reflections on your postgraduate application journey?
• The main focus of my graduate school application was documentary, and it was important to determine my school choice and the school's portfolio requirements up front. In terms of preparing your work, it is important to prepare in advance! It takes a lot of time and effort to choose a topic, communicate with the interviewer, shoot, and edit. It took me half a year to make a documentary, and I had to go back and forth over ten times before I could finalize the film. At the same time, we need to take into consideration the revision of the CV, the preparation of recommendation letters, as well as the achievement of the standard academic results. The next step is to determine the time to submit the online application. I applied late because it took me too long to polish my work, so don't be like me, but don't neglect the quality of your work because of speed!
• What are your academic or career plans for the future?
• In the future, I will continue to study relevant professional knowledge in graduate school while shooting more good works. I have accumulated a lot of valuable experience during my study in TVP, and I hope to improve my comprehensive quality and communication skills through my subsequent study and practice in UK universities. Afterwards, I will apply what I have learned to practical work and improve my practical ability and professionalism.
• Sum up your four years at XJTLU in three key words – and don’t forget to share a piece of advice for your juniors!
• Enrichment, Exploration, Independence

  I hope that my younger siblings will go out and create as many experiences as possible, and through them, accumulate feelings about what they like and what they hate; what they care about and what they don't care about; what they're good at and what they struggle with. This is the real part of outlining the goals of future life, in order to minimize regrets. The future itself is not the answer, you are.

   

4.Weiwei Zhang

Name: Weiwei Zhang

Programme: Arts, Technology and Entertainment with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism

Received offers:

I have received seven offers from universities, including the University of Melbourne and the University of Edinburgh.

Example:

University of Melbourne--Master of Management （Marketing）

University of Edinburgh--Modern and Contemporary Art: History, Curating, Criticism

Q&A：

• What inspired you to choose this programme in the first place?
• Art & Technology is a cutting-edge field that allows for both experimental and practical work. And I had some early exposure to it in my freshman year and had a great impression of it.
• In your view, what stands out the most about your programme? Any favourite modules or lecturers?
• Inclusivity—it welcomes all kinds of bold and creative ideas.

  The teachers in this programme are all wonderful, particularly PD Zhonghao Chen and Dr. Sijia Meng. They always provide quick feedback and offer the utmost support whenever students have questions.
• Could you share some tips or reflections on your postgraduate application journey?
• GPA is the most important, supplemented by internships or research experience. Don’t stress too much about the future—just focus on doing well in the present while keeping a general direction in mind.
• What are your academic or career plans for the future?
• I want to work in the fashion industry, possibly in marketing or as a buyer. If possible, I’d love to transition into styling or art direction, which is my ultimate goal.
• Sum up your four years at XJTLU in three key words – and don’t forget to share a piece of advice for your juniors!
• Broad exploration → Refined focus → True independence.

  Take advantage of your undergrad years to explore as many industries as possible, eliminate what you don’t like, and leave no regrets.

Our heartfelt thanks go to all the students who generously shared their journeys in this feature. Your honesty, courage and creativity are truly inspiring—and will surely light the way for many more to come.

As you move forward from XJTLU to the world, may your talents and passions continue to flourish.

Here's to bold dreams, new chapters, and ever-growing brilliance—beyond the frame.

Contributed by Yuqi Liu

Edited by Wenzhen Li