The Rise of Eastern Female Power in Australian Cinema

Recently, the Australian fantasy short film Wake Her Up has garnered multiple awards at international film festivals, including several Best Actress accolades such as the Actress in a Leading Role at the International Independent Film Awards and Best Actress at the Thilsri International Film Festival. This project was independently created and produced by Cross Encounters, which was mainly operated by a group of female filmmakers. Among them, Olivia Wang (Chinese name:王欧) is particularly noteworthy. Not only did she play the lead role Liz in Wake Her Up, but she is also the founder of the production company Cross Encounters. What kind of story lies behind her?

If we look back at the journey of making this film, we will find that Olivia Wang made a lot of efforts. She built this Melbourne-based institution Cross Encounters, the only one in Melbourne with full credentials for Sino-Australian performing arts, from the ground up. Under her leadership, Cross Encounters has fostered deep cultural integration between Australian and Asian arts, promoting unique creative styles and cross-cultural dialogue. Since its inception, Cross Encounters has attracted widespread media coverage from global outlets such as SBS, Xinhua News Agency, and Australian Arts Review. The company has also worked closely with the Australian government, Australia Council for the Arts, and various arts institutions. The have organised more than 18 public projects, including 10 workshops. In the past few years, it has also created and developed six film and television IP projects.

Wake Her Up stands out as a shining example of the company's in-depth exploration of cross-cultural and female-oriented themes. Wake Her Up is the first step in Melbourne's first cross-cultural modern fantasy film and drama IP series. It is leading a trend towards contemporary cross-cultural fantasy romance between East and West.

Throughout the creation of this IP, Olivia Wang also experienced a significant breakthrough in her own acting. In an interview, she mentioned that because her character, Liz, is a inspiring Eastern fairy tale heroine. The role required not only a significant amount of action scenes but also a rich emotional journey and complex inner conflicts. As a result, she had to find a delicate balance between these two aspects. Especially in one climactic scene, Olivia Wang expressed concern that her performance might be too intense and create a sense of disconnection from the background actors.

However, her performance turned out to be exceptionally well-executed, and the scene became one of the film's most memorable moments, winning the favor of international audiences. Olivia Wang's relentless dedication and attention to detail have made her a standout figure in the Australian film industry, representing one of the few prominent Eastern female faces in the field.

Additionally, screenwriter Alisha Zhao is another indispensable Eastern female filmmaker behind Wake Her Up. She expertly combines Eastern fantasy elements with a Western narrative backdrop, creating a story that not only reflects the rich heritage of Eastern culture but also embraces the aesthetic beauty of Western classical traditions. Beyond the exploration of cross-cultural communication, what stands out is Alisha Zhao's keen exploration and understanding of women's issues. She weaves the theme of “female awakening” into the core of Wake Her Up, showcasing a psychological state of Eastern women in a Western context—one that is often overlooked or misunderstood. Alisha Zhao's message is clear: while not all women are like Liz, every woman can, like Liz, draw strength from within, grow, and achieve redemption by learning to love themselves. Today, Cross Encounters and its creative team, is making global influence.

Obviously, most of the members of Wake Her Up are outstanding women, which also enabled it to successfully win the Female Filmmakers Film Award at the USA-online event 9th Direct Monthly Online Film Festival. In fact, not only Wake Her Up, but also the core members of the production company Cross Encounters are mostly women. Their work also supports international students, women, and LGBTQIA+ groups, making Cross Encounters a platform for cultural expression and connection across Yarra. Therefore, they are considered to be representatives of Australia's multiculturalism and also reflect the contribution of Asian women's power to artistic creation.

The success of Wake Her Up is not only due to its unique exploration of female themes but also to the extraordinary Eastern female filmmakers behind it. For them, Wake Her Up represents just the first step in showcasing their power to the world. Looking ahead, they hope to present even more distinct stories of Eastern women in the Australian film industry.

Wake Her Up support women and resonates with different cultures. Through bold narratives and emotional storytelling, the film challenges deep-rooted gender norms and speaks for silent experiences. Through such excellent film works which advocate women's right, Olivia Wang and their teams stands as a beacon of the transformative power of female storytelling—uniting diverse voices, fostering empathy, and inspiring a more inclusive cultural future.

Including its latest award-winning work Wake Her Up, Cross Encounters continues to grow its development and influence. 2025, further screen productions and stage projects are on the way. It's great to see such innovative Asian and Australian artists continue to enrich Melbourne's arts sector.

Represented by Olivia Wang, these proactive artists have conducted ground-breaking cultural explorations, crossed cultural boundaries, promoted exchanges and interactions between the Asia and Australia through multiple art forms, and brought excellent works such as Wake Her Up to audiences around the world. This not only provides a display platform for young artists, but also further deepens the connection between different cultural perspectives by providing opportunities for exchange. Such connection and showcase works are rising, leading the art industry to interact with the wider community.