New Voices of Chinese Cinema – UK A Showcase of Films by Chinese Directors

Bringing together five films by young Chinese directors, this showcase offers audiences in London an opportunity to explore contemporary Chinese cinema through stories that reflect the experiences, aspirations and changing realities of life in China today.

From intimate personal stories to journeys across landscapes and communities, these films invite audiences to discover different perspectives on Chinese life and society through the eyes of a new generation of filmmakers.

Whether you are a film enthusiast, interested in contemporary Chinese culture, or simply curious to discover something new, we warmly welcome you to join us for a screening.

All screenings will be presented with English subtitles.

Doors open 15 mins before the screening.

Gone with the Boat 《乘船而去》

Year: 2023

Duration: 99 mins

Director: Chen Xiaoyu

Synopsis: Elderly Zhou Jin, living alone in the countryside, is suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor, compelling her children, who work far away, to return home and care for her. The eldest daughter, Su Nianzhen, runs a study-abroad consulting business in Shanghai and is struggling with her second divorce. She is determined to pursue the best possible treatment for her mother. Meanwhile, her younger brother, Su Nianqing, a wandering tour guide, believes in accepting the impermanence of life and supports their mother’s wish to let go peacefully. As death approaches, Zhou Jin searches for spiritual peace, while Su Nianzhen and Su Nianqing, unraveling their mother's long-held secrets, slowly lose their last ties to their hometown.

Trailer for Gone With The Boat:

Never Too Late 《爷爷奶奶那些事儿》

Year: 2023

Duration: 81 mins

Director: Yang Lizhu

Synopsis: Deng Guiying and Yang Qiaoyuan have been separated for more than thirty years, and they have settled down in one south and one north of their respective units. The two people with vastly different personalities argued as soon as they met, and they finally divorced at the age of eighty. Nevertheless, Deng Guiying occasionally visits Yang Qiaoyuan. Under the curiosity and step-by-step exploration of their granddaughter, the dusty past and the overlooked inner side of each of them were gradually uncovered. As time passed, Deng Guiying developed Alzheimer's disease and her memory deteriorated. Yang Qiaoyuan also passed away in 2017. At the end of her life and memories, Deng Guiying forgot many things, including the conflicts she had with her husband.

The Absent 《冬旅人》

Year: 2024

Duration: 90 mins

Director: Lu Dan

Executive Producer: Pema Tseden

Synopsis: In a remote northern town during winter, the paths of three unlikely individuals cross: a long-absent Russian photographer returning home, a wandering Han Chinese girl in search of her father, and a reclusive Tatar accordionist. In the darkest moments of their lives, their fleeting encounter brings their lonely souls closer together. Through their intertwined arcs of growth, each discovers a path to redemption and a sense of solace in their shared journey.

Trailer for The Absent

Slow Road to Hainan 《慢慢到达》

Year: 2026

Duration: 106 mins

Director: Fu Jin, He Lei

Synopsis: Hainan’s Coastal Tourism Highway is a scenic, slow-paced road, and the people living along it seem to be seeking the meaning of “slowness.” The film portrays the transformations of fishing villages, harbors, and fishermen, using spatially “sliced” stories to reveal the local ecological environment, production, and way of life, reflecting on sustainable development and human-environment relationships.

Raindrops on a Roof 《雨落屋瓦》

Year: 2025

Director: Zhou Jiali

Executive Producer: Pema Tseden

Synopsis: Ah’e, a widow approaching her seventies, has lived with her unmarried son, Shi’an. Her daughter, Shining, re- turns home with a child following a divorce. There seems to be an intangible barrier within the family. As the bitter winter descends, Ah’e nurtures a yearning for an extravagant cashmere sweater for herself, only to fall into a deceitful ploy. This event stirs undercurrents with- in the aging household, compelling each member to confront their long-veiled sorrows and regrets.

Each person contributes their own bricks and tiles, con- structing a new abode from the leveled ground, right be- fore their eyes.

Trailer for Raindrops on a Roof:

Please note: If you can no longer attend, please cancel your booking so that other film lovers can take your place. Thank you for your consideration!

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