Sunday July 7 * 7pm * $10-20

“Dongting Village” is an experimental short film about “Passing Time in A Still Space”. The apartment that we filmed is located in Wuhan, China. It has been in use for almost 100 years. Local tycoons in British colonial era, movie stars during World War II, and cleaners under the Cultural Revolution had all lived here, and it is now occupied by an underground artist who makes a living by doing part-time work. The film displays a day of this house in the post-pandemic period. Although everything seems 'normal', the viewer is able to feel the 'time' as it is meant to be, through the information conveys by sound and images. Since Wuhan became notorious worldwide as the outbreak site of Covid, it and its residents have been living in a historical narrative constructed by different political forces. As an independent artist, I wish that I can keep a slice of the real time, history and life.

500 Miles Away From Home

Producer/Director : Qianhui Xu
Associate Producer: Xhep Xhepa
Format: Documentary Short
Running Time: 25 minutes
Genre: Observational

This is a film about love and forgiveness. The two main characters use their own experiences and actions to show us how to heal past wounds and love themselves and each other; how to pick up lost courage, face their mistakes, accept their imperfections, and embrace the challenges of life; and ultimately achieve a real sense of peace and understanding. More than demonstrating clichéd mother-daughter conflicts and family traumas, I am more concerned with bringing bravery and hope to those who are going through or have gone through similar dilemmas.

Jiuying is a talented printmaker grappling with bipolar disorder and financial struggles. As Lunar New Year draws near, Jiuying returns to her hometown, seeking solace and resolution to the emotional turmoil between herself and her mother, Hengpei. Hengpei, a figure fixated on bodybuilding, attempts to bridge the emotional chasm by guiding Jiuying through physical exercise. However, the scars of past mistreatment and control inflicted by Hengpei haunt Jiuying, hindering her from embracing new opportunities. Amidst tearful exchanges at the dinner table, Jiuying confesses the pain buried deep within her, confronting the ghosts of their shared history. Yet, amidst the heartbreak, a transformative journey unfolds as Jiuying and Hengpei find reconciliation and healing in the vast fields of the countryside, where Hengpei's roots lie. Through shared vulnerability and mutual understanding, they discover the power of unconditional love and acceptance, transcending past grievances to dance together in a beautiful symphony of forgiveness and redemption.