Short Film

White Birds Worship the Phoenix

In a haunting tale of sacrifice and beauty, a group of white birds offers their vibrant feathers to the majestic phoenix, only to discover that their devotion leads to their own gradual disappearance and the inevitable demise of the very symbol they revered.

Produced by

LEOW

Directed by

LEOW

Project Description

“White Birds Worship the Phoenix” draws inspiration from the ancient Chinese fable “Hundred Birds Worship the Phoenix”, a tale symbolizing auspiciousness and harmony. The phoenix, revered as the king of birds, earns the admiration of all creatures through its virtue and kindness. Each year, the birds gather before the phoenix, offering their most beautiful feathers as a gesture of respect. However, revisiting this story stirred a strange feeling within me: year after year, the white birds surrender their feathers, their once vibrant and colorful wings gradually fading to a monotonous white. Meanwhile, the phoenix's plumage becomes increasingly dazzling, absorbing all the hues from the birds' sacrifices. When everything seems to have reached a state of "perfection," the white birds start to vanish, and eventually, even the phoenix disappears without a trace. Perhaps it was the overwhelming weight of its resplendent plumage that the phoenix, too, could no longer bear.

About the Director

LEOW (Dian Wang) Visual Artist | Music Producer LEOW (Wang Dian), born in Shanghai, China, is a visual artist and music producer known for his work in digital space design and music composition. Classically trained in music from an early age, LEOW later earned a Master’s degree in Data Science in the UK. During this time, he began merging data science with music production, broadening his creative perspective and laying the foundation for his interdisciplinary artistic approach. In 2021, LEOW founded the Asian Tribe project, a platform dedicated to promoting Asian cultural arts through multimedia and interdisciplinary collaborations. Since 2023, LEOW has worked on several international projects, including visual production for Japanese music monk Kanho Yakushiji's China tour and the collaborative video art Tower with Chinese artist Lü Wenjing, exhibited at the Yalu River Art Museum. In 2024, LEOW collaborated with performance artist Huang Fangling on the immersive theater production Anna-Gabler and served as the lead producer for Phantom of Yungang, a dome-screen audio-visual project at the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi, China. These projects demonstrate his ability to combine traditional culture with modern technology, creating experiences that resonate on a cultural and emotional level. LEOW’s works have been featured at renowned events, including the Berlin Media Art Festival, the West Bund Art & Design Fair, and international film and multimedia festivals. His achievements include awards such as the Bronze A'Design Award (2015) and recognition at events like the Lumina Flicks International Short Film Fest (2024) and the Seoul International AI Film Festival (2025). Key Works City Altar (2022): Exhibited at the West Bund Art & Design Fair, Shanghai Mrs Zhao’s Hat (2023): Selected for the Digital Audio Visual section at the Berlin Media Art Festival Tower (2023): Collaborative work with artist Lü Wenjing, exhibited at the Yalu River Art Museum Anna-Gabler (2024): Immersive theater production Phantom of Yungang (2024): Dome-screen audio-visual project at the Yungang Grottoes Awards & Recognitions Sunshine White Cube (2015): Bronze at A'Design Award City Altar (2022): Exhibited at the West Bund Art & Design Fair Lily (2023): Exhibited at Shanghai Senlan - Being Art Museum Personal Audio Visual Exhibitions (2022-2023): Jinyun Cave10, Being Art Museum The Path of Stones (2024): Best International Music, Parai Musical International Awards Lumina Flicks International Short Film Fest (2024): The Path of Stones Seoul International AI Film Festival (2025): White Birds Worship the Phoenix