In 2021, FIRST and GIADA jointly launched the "Art to Art Filmmaker Co-Growth Program" to empower female filmmakers in their creative pursuits and personal development. Through sustained collaboration, we have identified numerous script projects infused with feminist consciousness and focused on women’s narratives under the framework of the "Surprise Lab". Starting in 2024, the FIRST Surprise Film Festival and its official partner GIADA will expand the program’s vision under the theme "Flower on the Rock". While continuing to prioritize creative development, the initiative will broaden its scope to support producers and behind-the-scenes practitioners, fostering holistic career growth for women in film.

During the 2024 FIRST Surprise Film Festival, the program will be renamed the "Art to Art: Flower on the Rock Filmmaker Co-Growth Program". It will award one screenplay-stage project selected from the FIRST Surprise Lab with a certificate of recognition and a 100,000 RMB cash grant, reaffirming its commitment to diversifying the landscape of genre filmmaking.

Looking ahead, the "Art to Art: Flower on the Rock Filmmaker Co-Growth Program" will undergo further enhancements, with major announcements slated for the "Surprise Gala" at this year’s festival. By establishing multi-channel support systems and collaborative platforms, the program aims to engage female professionals behind the camera in co-creating a more equitable and inclusive film industry.Stories are everywhere—they are vital to life.FIRST Surprise Film Festival and GIADA will continue exploring diverse possibilities for women’s narratives in cinema, highlighting the resilient inner strength of women, inspiring intellectual innovation, and driving transformative action to let the multifaceted beauty of humanity flourish in reality.