C4. Best Cinematography (Nominee)
Lost Fish
From Johnny Zhao
A young man delivers a goldfish to a Japanese woman searching for her estranged father in Sydney, leading to an unexpected journey that challenges her sense of identity, family, and the passage of time.
Johnny Zhao is an independent filmmaker and cinematographer based in Sydney, Australia. He graduated from the Screen Production program at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 2025. His work explores themes of identity, belonging, growth, and human connection, often focusing on the experiences of young people navigating life between cultures. As both a director and cinematographer, Johnny is passionate about visual storytelling that combines emotional authenticity with cinematic imagery. This film is his final undergraduate project and represents the culmination of his studies, marking an important step in the beginning of his filmmaking career.
What inspired you and your work?
The inspiration for this film came from a personal experience during a trip to Hokkaido, Japan, in 2024. As a stranger in a foreign country, I met a young woman and found myself having a surprisingly deep conversation with someone I had never known before. Although we never had the chance to meet again, that brief encounter left a lasting impression on me. It made me reflect on the unique connections that can emerge between strangers and how certain moments can stay with us long after they have passed.
As a Chinese filmmaker, I have always felt a strong connection to Japanese cinema and culture. The works of directors such as Shunji Iwai, particularly Love Letter, and Takeshi Kitano, especially Kikujiro, have deeply influenced me both visually and emotionally. Their ability to find beauty, nostalgia, and humanity in everyday moments inspired my own approach to storytelling. This film is an attempt to capture that same feeling of fleeting connection, memory, and emotional resonance.