First Edition
Jiěkě – Thirst
Director: Zheng Yue
China, 25’26”
Communication University of China
SYNOPSIS: Delivery girl Xiaofei falls in love with the fake photographer Chen Lan. When she unexpectedly discovers Chen Lan’s true identity, she realizes that her nude photos have appeared in an art exhibition.
PROFILE: Director Zheng Yue was born in 1998 in Shandong. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Communication University of China, majoring in Film and Television Photography and Production (Film and Television Cinematography specialization), and obtained a graduate degree in MFA in Film Creation from the Communication University of China. By shifting from still photography to video shooting and then to film creation, she strives to expand the boundaries of her multidimensional capabilities and continuously explores and creates in the realm of visual imagery.
Qiǎo méi – Struggling Beneath Mud
Director: Hou Jun Yi
China, 27’55”
Nanjing University of the Arts
SYNOPSIS: Qiao mei’s husband was unfortunately injured at the construction where he was working and returned home, leaving Qiao mei to work alone and waiting to receive the compensation. Qiaomei turns to the foreman to open a small store to earn a living. Being a newcomer to the construction site, Liang Liang and Qiao mei develop a mutual feeling. After the foreman is replaced, the relationship between Qiao mei and Liang Liang is put to the test.
PROFILE: Born in Pingyao County, Shanxi Province, China, he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in film and television directing at Nanjing University of the Arts. He believes that good movies can reflect social phenomena and promote social development. His first work, Qiao Mei, set in his hometown of Pingyao, marked the beginning of his creative process, as well as the divergent point of using the cinematographic perspective to observe society.
Monorisu – Monolith
Director: Sota Fukushima
Japan, 3’50”, animation
Tama Art University
SYNOPSIS: A photographer is traveling in the wilderness when his partner is abducted by an unknown ethnic group. While wandering aimlessly in the attempt of saving her, he sees a towering monolith. The man moves forward with two conflicting feelings: he wants to rescue his partner, and he wants to capture the beautiful scenery in front of him by taking a photograph. Then a mysterious old woman with an eerie smile appears in front of the wounded man…
PROFILE: Sota Fukushima was born in 2001. Filmmaker, animator, and illustrator. He lives in Tokyo. Currently enrolled at the Department of Graphic Design at Tama Art University. He also works under the name “fusso”. He usually creates animation and illustrations using digital techniques. He creates works that evoke a sense of exoticism and nostalgia with his exclusive color schemes and settings that uniquely interpret folklore and indigenous culture.
Kijeulaendeu – KidsLand
Director: Won-u Gim
Republic of Korea, 22’30”
Korea National University of Arts
SYNOPSIS: Surim and Jungwoo are cousins born and raised together in a small rural village. After the construction of a thermoelectric plant in the village is promoted, things continue to hinder the friendship between the two.
PROFILE: Won-u Gim was born in Korea in 1997. Majored in TV series directing at the Korea National University of Arts. He directed the short films Vladi (2019) and Ichon-dong (2021).
