MIDNIGHT SUN (2025)
Director Zhejian Michael Cong
Genre Drama
Location Lubec, Maine, United States
Language English, Mandarin, Russian, French
Running time 120 minutes
Stage of production post production
Country of production United States, France
Year 2025
LOGLINE
Midnight Sun follows the chance encounter bewteen two strangers, Wei and Yuan Yuan, in the wintry Maine, where they share a journey together to find courage to confront their past and move on in their lives.
SYNOPSIS
In Portland Airport, a woman named Yuan Yuan waits with her small dog, expecting a friend who eventually cancels due to unforeseen circumstances. She feels lost. While having dinner at a Thai restaurant, she accepts a ride offer from a stranger. During the ride, they hardly speak to each other, and the man mysteriously vanishes after reaching their destination.
Back at the hotel, she talks to her friend, consoling them, but she herself feels heavyhearted. She hides in the bathroom to smoke, and suddenly, the power goes out. Yuan Yuan is startled to see a man outside her window. The next day, a blizzard hits Portland, causing a transportation standstill. She meets the man from last night again. His name is Wei and he agrees to accompany her to Lubec.
During the journey, they gradually interact and share their stories. Yuan Yuan came to see whales, while Wei grapples with his inner conflicts and insomnia. On the way, they meet two filmmakers, Marco and Pat. They are making a documentary on a closing local theater.
Upon arriving in Belfast town, they visit a cinema and hear local sailor legends. At night, Yuan Yuan watches a video, reminiscing about memories with her exboyfriend. Weii, on the other hand, seeks inner peace with Marco. Later, they leave Belfast together for Lubec.
In front of the Lubec lighthouse, Awei encourages Yuan Yuan to confront her inner struggles alone, and she screams at the sea. Suddenly, a whale emerges, as if answering to her call.
DIRECTOR— Zhejian Michael Cong
Zhejian Michael Cong is a Chinese filmmaker based in New York. After working extensively as a cinematographer on narrative films and commercials, he pursued an MFA in Directing at Columbia University to further explore his immersive approach to storytelling. With sensitivity and dedication, Zhejian creates cinematic worlds that are both intimate and visually poetic.
Having lived and worked across both Chinese and American cultures, Zhejian is deeply interested in the notion of global identity. His artistic voice transcends cultural boundaries, informed by a personal understanding of East and West. His background in cinematography enriches his directing, allowing him to craft lyrical images that evoke universal emotion.
At his core, Zhejian is an experimental filmmaker. He explores the intersection of reality and fiction, using deeply personal visuals to express shared human experiences. Communication and integrity are foundational to his creative process.
Zhejian’s cinematography has been featured at prestigious festivals including Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes, Palm Springs International Film Festival, and AAIFF. His short film Windy Days screened at the 2022 ISFVF in Beijing. Midnight Sun is his first feature film.