From Volunteer to Somebody
Everytime I think of FIRST , the vague memory is about the asphalt road, the cold wind and the sparkling eyes of volunteers. FIRST made a difference to many people, as for the volunteers, it makes them work further and firmly.
@JPXG, the 11th FIRST volunteer(检票小哥)
I think it will be difficult to recall what happened two years ago. However, when I started to do it, everything seemed clear to me. After the festival, I insist on movie, media and official accounts. Some weeks ago, I gathered with my volunteer friends, recalling every detail of the festival. How amazing that we all keep our enthusiasm.
I was extremely happy that time, being not only crazy about movie but also content with visiting many places including Hoh Xil. It may be the happiest time in my life.
As for the memory about FIRST, Béla Tarr plays an important role. In fact, I even didn’t finish watching The Turin Horse，but I pretended to be his fans, wrting some articles to introduce this famous director. However, I am not dare to watch these words again.
We didn’t have much communication for I was bad at English, but I remember he asked me “how do you Chinese say ‘fuck’”. My answer was “ Cao ”. For god sake, I didn’t insult him.
@BAO Hairan, the 12th FIRST volunteer
I came to Xining in 2017, buying 24 movie tickets, finishing the whole trip with my father’s company. After watching Mirrors and Feathers，I slipped out of the room and lighted a cigarette , though I knew my father would blame me if he found me smoking. For smoking under the sun, I came as a volunteer next year.
At the beginning, I was able to write some beautiful words to express my love. However, it was the intimacy finally left impression. I will never forget my workmates, we working together, being tired together, and staying awake together. I was touched by them and decided to devote myself to movie.
@SHA Zixiao, two-session volunteer
2017 was my sophomore year, the time when I was curious about FIRST and Xining, so I decided to participate in this great film event. However, except for excellent movies, I was lucky to gain deep friendship there. I met various people in FIRST, making good friends with them fortunately. I still remember my friends’ sparkling faces, which may company me crossed time and space.
2018 was my senior year of university, but I still threw myself into FIRST decisively. FIRST is enthusiastic and charming, making me feel relaxed and vigorous. After taking part in FIRST, I started directing my own movie, which is a hard work but I will never give up, for it is my faith.
It is late in the evening, I am still in The Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, working on a TV program. To be honest, sometimes I am tired and upset, but my dear FIRST teach me how to keep on. I will fear for nothing.
ZHANG Yanru, Use FIRST as paper topic
I will never forget the summer holiday of 2015, the time when I took part in FIRST. Though I am not major in movie, I was excited to know such a film festival. By coincidence, I made friend with someone who was studying in Hangzhou. We exchanged the information about movie tickets. He would bring me to his volunteer friends. We watched movie and ate night snack together. Before my lovely friend leaving Xining，I receive an article he wrote to recommend some movies. I was touched by his enthusiasm.
I wrote about FIRST in my thesis, but I have never met my lovely friend again. Now I hope I can be a part of FIRST in a new role. Next time if I meet lovely volunteer, I will pay for the beer.
In the stories about volunteer, FIRST has been a station, where they arrived at, stayed in and left. They grow up here, making future clear to themselves.
The 13th volunteer recruitment has started. We look for more story tellers, hoping to meet enthusiastic and fresh faces. This time, we open the exclusive access to local volunteers in Xining, which starts recruiting on 20th April.
Click Read more, knowing how to sign up for volunteer.