Synopsis
When ten-year-old Abigail Phillips discovers a forgotten piano deep in the woods on her father's farm, she uncovers more than a passion for music - she unlocks a mystery that spans generations. In the wake of her mother’s sudden passing, Abigail finds solace and purpose in music, and her natural talent quickly blossoms. Recognizing her exceptional gift, her father sends her to Paris to pursue a career as a concert pianist. Meanwhile, he begins his own investigation into the piano’s mysterious origins. As he uncovers a hidden history of loss, longing, and silent lives quietly touched by the instrument, Abigail’s fame begins to grow, along with the weight of the secret behind her talent. Told through intertwined timelines, The Gift is a lyrical meditation on creativity, memory, and love - an exploration of how an ordinary object can hold an extraordinary past. The Gift is a love letter to art, resilience, and the mysterious power of music to connect us across generations.
About The Film
A story of creative ambition, talent, and the extraordinary history of a seemingly ordinary object. The Gift is the debut feature film by Sunny Zhao. Inspired by Zhao’s personal background as a musician, the film explores the beauty and struggles of nurturing artistic genius. Told in a unique, nonlinear style - interweaving present and past through the central motif of the piano - The Gift is shot in stunning anamorphic format, featuring slow-motion sequences and rich, saturated colors that evoke a dreamlike quality. From the quiet countryside of Virginia, to the grand stages of Paris, The Gift is an emotional, heartwarming tale of love, music, and the lifelong pursuit of truth.
From the very beginning, we envisioned this story being told through breathtaking visuals that would be accompanied by authentic, romantic period piano music and world-class symphony performances of the music score. Over six years, we captured every key location across all four seasons. The shifting landscapes, falling rain, and drifting snow - none of which was created with AI - were all crafted through practical, on-location cinematography. Abigail’s magical childhood was almost entirely shot using natural light. We began filming our lead character Abigail, who is played by Emma Barnett, at the age of 10 and continued until she was 14 ½. After a six-year break, we brought her back to complete the story at age 21. Abigail truly grows up on screen, and Emma’s journey mirrors her character’s in a deeply authentic way. Due to the extended production timeline, we utilized nearly every generation of RED Digital Cinema Cameras, along with two generations of Phantom high-speed digital cameras. The film was shot in anamorphic format. The result is a cohesive, cinematic story that seamlessly brings together years of visual storytelling.
The Visuals
Director’s Statement
The Gift began with a memory—my own childhood moments at small practice room in front of a old piano, when music felt like a secret world only I could enter. And there is nothing like the way music can move you. A touch of a note, a simple, honest delay of that melody. That personal connection became the seed of this film. I wanted to tell a story about the mysterious force of talent, and how creativity can shape—and sometimes reshape—the lives of those who encounter it. And a ordinary life become extraordinary.
This film is not just about music; it’s about the emotional echoes an object can carry across time. A piano is just wood, wire, and keys—until someone breathes life into it. From that moment it comes alive. It has memory, it records, it become a witness of greatness and a collaborator. It become your partner in crime…It carries you to your destiny. I’ve always believed that creativity is not just something we do, but something we inherit, something that travels, something can pass on to, and connects us.
Abigail Phillips grow up in the story. Over the years, I filmed Emma Barnet for over four years. Capturing her from 10 till 14 1/2 years old, capturing her real transformation from child to early teen. Her journey mirrors Abigail’s. That authenticity—combined with practical cinematography over six years, real seasonal changing, landscapes reshaping, and magical moments of mother nature—was my commitment to honoring the organic beauty of the story.
The Gift is a love letter to anyone who’s ever wondered where their talent comes from… and what they’re willing to sacrifice for it.
Sunny Zhao