Short Film Fundraising - Babyland, Motherland

Hello everyone, I am Xiaoxing Chen, a Chinese writer-director based in Brooklyn. I want to tell you about my upcoming short film, Babyland, Motherland 乐园.

The story takes place on a July 4th weekend, one of our protagonists, Anran, a young Chinese woman visits a Postpartum Care Center in a rich American town where her undocumented mother works. There, she discovers that her mother has no intention of returning to China, to her husband, to home.

This project is based on my relationships with my mother, and the questions I carry about womanhood and home. I keep wondering: what if a woman’s decision to leave the family is, in fact, being true to herself? And when the home we know no longer offers peace, where is the new home?

In Chinese culture, postpartum care is considered essential to a woman’s long-term health. For me, a postpartum care center is a compelling setting for this story because it brings together many different forms of the mother-child relationship.

At the heart of the film is the evolving bond between Yan and Anran, a mother and daughter, two women, as they gradually come to understand one another while each following her own path toward becoming herself.

'Babyland, Motherland' is my thesis project in the Stony Brook University/Killer Films MFA Film program. It is currently in pre-production, fundraising, and visual planning, with principal photography scheduled for late October this year, which is in less than 2 weeks.

So far, luckily, our project has gathered a wonderful cast and a supportive crew of talented people with diverse backgrounds, including China, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and the United States. The project has received support from Panavision New Filmmaker Equipment Grant, and was selected for Finalist of The Day Job Short Film Fund (in progress).

Nevertheless, as an international student making an independent film in the US, I face significant production costs. We are currently seeking financial contributions, in-kind resources, and partnerships to help bring Babyland, Motherland to life.

Any level of support—whether through a donation, production resources, or simply sharing our campaign—would make a meaningful difference. Your support would help us cover essential expenses, including locations, transportation, meals, equipment, and compensation for our cast and crew.

Thank you for believing in this story and helping us bring it to life. We would be deeply grateful to have you join in this journey together.