When the co-directing team first traveled to Guizhou to begin filming, it was also the first time Kyle met his wife’s and now his family. That visit added a new layer to the film’s core theme of community because behind the camera, they were living it. Sharing meals, meeting relatives, and being welcomed into the rhythms of daily life grounded the project in lived experience and deepened the team’s sense of purpose and care.

The film is shaped by this spirit of collaboration and connection. With one director from China and the other from the United States, Super Village is rooted in both local knowledge and global perspective. Their long-standing creative partnership and time spent together in Guizhou allow the film to move beyond surface-level observation into something more intimate and nuanced. Producer Alice, who identifies as a member of one of China’s ethnic minority groups, adds further insight and cultural depth to the team.

Making Super Village has been an act of connection across cultures, communities, and within our own lives. It’s not just a film about soccer or rural China. It’s a story about finding meaning and belonging in unexpected places.