“The Years Between Us” wins Golden Angel Award at Chinese American TV Festival 

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6 (Guangming Online) -- The opening ceremony and Golden Angel Award presentation of the 21st Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American TV Festival were held in Los Angeles, USA. The documentary “The Years Between Us,” created by young Chinese director Chen Yinuo, was honored with the Golden Angel Award for the Annual Best Web Documentary.

Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2025 shows young Chinese director Chen Yinuo after winning the Golden Angel Award at the 21st Chinese American TV Festival in Los Angeles, USA. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

The creative inspiration for “The Years Between Us” (also known as "THE YEARS BETWEEN US") stemmed from director Chen Yinuo's personal experiences. The film documents her journey to reunite with several "au pair sisters" who lived with her family during her childhood, showcasing a decade-spanning story of a warm promise and cultural exchange. Chen Yinuo stated that fulfilling a promise was the surface-level motivation for the project, but the deeper drive was to discover what became of the sisters who illuminated her childhood and to see if the seeds of transnational friendship planted ten years ago remain vibrant. Utilizing a dual narrative structure that blends historical footage with present-day reunions, the film explores the profound impact of cultural integration on personal growth.

Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2025 shows the Golden Angel Award certificate for “The Years Between Us”. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

The Chinese American TV Festival's Golden Angel Award is recognized as a significant event for cultural exchange. This year's event, under the theme “Boundless Light and Shadow, A Shared Future,” attracted over 600 film and television entries for evaluation. Film and television professionals and government officials from both China and the United States attended the ceremony. Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun stated in his speech that after more than two decades of development, the event has become an important brand for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, not only promoting practical cooperation in the film and television industry but also enabling the peoples of both nations to understand and appreciate each other through the power of cinema.

It is reported that “The Years Between Us” (titled "A Decade of Promise" on some Chinese platforms) has been selected for the “New Era, New Imagery” Sino-foreign co-creation plan and has received support from the Beijing Radio, Film and Television Network Audio-Visual Fund. It is scheduled to be broadcast on platforms including iQiyi, Tencent, Discovery, and CCTV's documentary channel. Director Chen Yinuo revealed, "The sisters awaiting reunions are enough to support the production of a second season, and we have already made an appointment for the next decade." The film shows potential to become a sustainable IP for international communication.