Teng Congcong

Teng Congcong is a Chinese film director and screenwriter. Her work is known for exploring the female experience and the struggles of women in Chinese society. She is best known for her film Send Me to the Clouds and the television series To the Wonder (2024).

Career Teng spent many of the early years of her career working as an editor on others' films. Once casting began, Yao Chen, Yuan Hong, and Li Jiuxiao were cast in starring roles. Yao Chen joined the film after one of the film's producers, Dun He, passed the script to her. The film was a mild commercial success at the box office. Made on a budget of US$1.4 million (RMB 10 million), the film grossed US$4.3 million (RMB 29.5 million) at the box office. Critically, the reviews were mixed. Elizabeth Kerr from the Hollywood Reporter stated that, "as a director, Teng isn’t a standout stylist, and the film’s technical specs are perfectly adequate, not flashy. Similarly, Send Me to the Clouds doesn’t go out of its way to be overly confrontational, but the combination of Yao-approved female independence, a portrait of defiance and frank acknowledgement of things like ovaries make it something of a cinematic roar — and universal despite its geographic specificity." Nicholas Olczak from Eastern Kicks stated that Teng "has really shown her talent with this lively and engaging film which offers a sharp satire of today’s money-obsessed, morally adrift Chinese society." Production and interviews of Altay locals began in 2020. Ma Yili, Zhou Yiran, and Yu Shi were cast in the starring roles. Filming began in April 2023 and lasted for 56 days.

The series was released in 2024 to critical acclaim. At the 2024 7th annual Cannes Series Festival, To The Wonder was selected for the Best Long Drama Competition, making it the first Chinese-language long drama to be nominated in that category. After its premiere on China Central Television, the drama consistently topped the viewership ratings in its time slot. Within a week of its release, it had more than 100 million online viewers. Lead actor Yu Shi publicly praised her directorial vision. In an interview with French magazine Prestige, he stated that "with her delicate sensibility she’s good at observing the details, and knows how to portray female innocence and difficulties in life, but she’s also capable of finding men’s charm and magnifying it from a women’s perspective." Best Writer Teng Congcong, Peng Yining

Best Drama Series To The Wonder

Best Direction (Drama or Fiction) Teng Congcong

Best TV Series To The Wonder

Best Director Teng Congcong Best Adapted Screenplay Teng Congcong, Peng Yining International Communication Award (TV Drama) To The Wonder