Eric HZ to debut Encounter live at Chinese American Film Festival

Eric HZ will perform his original song Encounter for the first time live at the 22nd Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American Television Festival on Nov. 10 in Los Angeles. The performance is part of a broader festival lineup aimed at cultural exchange, industry collaboration and emerging talent development.

Why it matters: - Eric HZ’s return to the Golden Angel Awards puts Chinese-language pop music on a high-profile stage tied to U.S.-China cultural exchange. - The 22nd Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American Television Festival will use the Nov. 10 ceremony in Los Angeles to spotlight cross-cultural performance, industry cooperation and new talent. - The festival’s film project development initiative, now in its fourth year, continues to connect emerging filmmakers with industry partners and evaluation opportunities.

What happened: - The 22nd Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American Television Festival will open in Los Angeles on Nov. 10, 2026. - Eric HZ, also known as Hechen Zhao, will perform his original song Encounter for the first time live at the Golden Angel Awards ceremony. - Eric HZ first performed at the festival in 2025 and returns after appearing at the 21st edition. - The 2026 festival lineup also includes singer-songwriters Panda Hsiung and Marina Yang Yang.

The details: - The festival theme this year is “A Bridge of Screens, A World of Dreams.” - Panda Hsiung is known among Chinese-speaking audiences as the “Prince of Love Songs.” - Panda Hsiung is recognized for songs including Matchstick Paradise (《火柴天堂》) and Love Danube (《爱情多瑙河》). - Marina Yang Yang continues to work in songwriting and live performance. - Eric HZ performed his original song Child (《孩子》) at the 2025 Golden Angel Awards ceremony. - Eric HZ received the Outstanding Contribution to International Arts and Culture Award in 2025. - The Recording Academy introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance for the 69th GRAMMY Awards in 2026. - Child was submitted for consideration in the category and drew attention in GRAMMY submission coverage. - Forbes music contributor Jeff Benjamin also featured Eric HZ and his work in reporting on the category. - Eric HZ joined the Recording Academy’s A Conversation with Leaders in Asian Music in September 2026. - The discussion focused on Asian music’s cultural identity, artistic evaluation and international development. - Eric HZ studied music at Berklee College of Music and trained under soprano Wan Shanhong. - His work spans singing, songwriting, music production, hosting and live performance. - He has performed You Are So Wonderful (《你那么好》) on Hainan Television’s Spring Festival Gala. - In March 2026, Eric HZ served as both host and guest performer at Tan Jing’s concert A Musical Journey: Jinghua at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. - He also performed with Sha Baoliang, Chen Yimiao and Song Yuzhe at the launch ceremony of the Chinese American Music Festival in 2026. - Eric HZ has received congressional recognition for contributions to music and cultural exchange between China and the United States. - Encounter features backing vocals by six young Chinese American singers from the Dallas Contemporary Music Academy: Thomas Wu, Mia Zhang, Derek Li, Isabella Ruoxi Hu, Bella Grace Xie and Sharon Zheng.

Between the lines: - Eric HZ’s positioning reflects a broader effort to frame Chinese-language music as globally legible without losing cultural specificity. - His quote, “Asian Pop should be a door, not a wall,” underscores that approach. - His other statement, that true internationalism means bringing one’s culture into the world, aligns with the festival’s larger cultural-exchange mission. - The use of young Chinese American singers on Encounter suggests the project is also about mentorship and continuity, not just performance. - The festival’s long-running ties with U.S. studios and Chinese film institutions point to an event that operates as both a showcase and a networking platform.

What’s next: - Eric HZ will unveil Encounter at the Nov. 10 Golden Angel Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. - The festivals will continue their film-industry collaboration efforts through the development initiative supported by the Chinese American Film Festival Organizing Committee, Shanghai Film Group and Legendary Entertainment. - The 2026 edition is expected to build on more than two decades of exchange between Chinese and U.S. film and television communities.

The bottom line: - The 2026 festivals are pairing star performances with industry pipeline work, and Eric HZ’s live debut of Encounter is one of the clearest examples of that blend.