"Stepping Stones"
A Short Documentary 
Written & Directed by
Polly Pierce

"Stepping Stones" recounts the story of Shexian Ink Stone engraver Hu Bin and his decision to leave the fast paced and yet isolated life of Shanghai to return to the tradition and legacy of his family's ink stone engraving business in smaller Shexian, thus finding personal and professional fulfillment in the exploration, growth and passing on of this Chinese intangible cultural tradition. 

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Prepped, shot and edited within three wild and busy weeks in Anhui Province in China in April/ May 2024, "Stepping Stones" was my first documentary film. It was a beautiful experience to be immersed in Chinese culture and tradition and to be challenged to grow and rediscover filmmaking in such an intensive process with only my local Chinese producer, Annan, as a lifeline to navigate the language barrier. 

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***UPDATE***

Semi- Finalist at the Hawai'i International Film Awards - Sept 2024

Screening at the Vancouver Chinese Film Festival - 2025