In a near-future where human labor has almost been eradicated by androids, a dedicated restaurant chef in Los Angeles teaches a trainee humanoid how to cook traditional Chinese food. But their blossoming relationship is soon put to the test as disenfranchised people head to the streets to violently target the source of their troubles—technology. 

This year NOWNESS announced its inaugural awards celebrating breakthrough cultural excellence in film and video art. As an extension, Nowness China honored director Hao Zheng with the New Talent Award, celebrating a new generation of Chinese filmmakers on the international stage. 

“We wanted to make a short film about immigration, culture and human relationships,” says Zheng. “We always blame technology for separating us but is that really happening, or is it just an excuse?” continues Zheng, whose film and final-year graduation project explores xenophobia within a sci-fi context. “The Chef embraces the idea that we can build human relationships despite differences.”

The Chef has been screened at a number international film festivals, won Silver in the narrative category for the 46th Annual Student Academy Awards, and also won Best Science Fiction Short Film at the AT&T Film Awards.