STUNNING DEBUT: Lin Zeran (right) delivers a speech after receiving Best Director award from judge Wu Xiubo at the Micro-Movie Festival held by the Middle School Attached to Tsinghua University in Beijing on May 11 (CHEN RAN)

How would you spend your last day if you were the only person in the world? How would you feel about it if your last day were as usual as any other days in your life but without anyone else being around?

That was the scenario that Lin Zeran created for the short film If Only. It took but one month to produce.

The five-minute short, directed by the 17-year-old Lin, won Best Actor and Best Director awards at the Micro-Movie Festival held by the Middle School Attached to Tsinghua University in Beijing on May 11.

Twenty-four movies created by students competed in the festival as part of the school's annual students' carnival. The stories are mainly on youth, dreams and passion.

"If you become a director in the future, it will be my honor if I were a cast member of your film," veteran actor Wu Xiubo told Lin at the award ceremony.

Wu, star of Finding Mr. Right released this March, served as judge, holding many acting awards himself. It was his first time to get involved in a middle school art activity.

"I thought we would get Best Editing award, and never expected to get these two awards," Lin told Beijing Review after the ceremony. "I truly appreciate my team because they are very supportive."

Many viewers thought the movie seemed a bit gloomy, but the director saw her debut differently. "I hope it could remind everyone to cherish the moment and enjoy everyday life," she noted.

"I watched all the movies. If Only and other works impressed me. I'd like to congratulate the students for their imagination and creativity," Wu said.

"Besides learning in classes, taking part in such activities would definitely help students better understand and communicate with each other, as well as know about society and the humanities," he added.