Supported by Lean In Media (UK), an inaugural event to showcase a retrospective of Tiantan Award winners from the Beijing International Film Festival to kick off in London at the Genesis Cinema. – Editorial headline
[Press Release Content] Step into the world of contemporary Chinese cinema with this special London screening event, presented by the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF). Featuring six standout films selected from recent BJIFF editions, this unique showcase offers a rare opportunity for UK audiences to experience the richness, diversity, and creative power of Chinese storytelling on the big screen.
Spanning powerful dramas, compelling narratives, and thought-provoking themes, these films represent some of the most exciting voices in Chinese filmmaking today.
Whether you’re a film enthusiast, cultural explorer, or industry professional, this event invites you to connect with China’s vibrant cinematic landscape.
Screening Schedule
Opening Night: G for Gap with Director Q&A
Screening time: Saturday 10th May, 17:30 pm
Year: 2024
Duration: 103 mins
Director: Long Fei
Cast: Hu Ge/Gao Yuanyuan/Yue Hong/Zhou Yemang/Jin Jing
Synopsis: Wudi, a man disheartened by setbacks in both his career and love life, chooses to return to his hometown in a bout of depression. This “sudden” return disrupts the tranquil life of his family, as he not only has to navigate close quarters with relatives but also seek out new possibilities for his future. After numerous rejections in reality, a chance encounter with his high school classmate, Feng Liuliu, leads to unexpected changes in his life.
Song of Spring
Screening time: Tuesday 13th May, 18:00 pm
Year: 2022
Duration: 109 mins
Director: Lina Yang
Cast: Wu Yanshu/Xi Meijuan/Wen Qi
Synopsis: An 85 year old mother has to take care of her 65 year old daughter with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Shadowless Tower
Screening time: Wednesday 14th May, 18:00 pm
Year: 2023
Duration: 144 mins
Director: Lü Zhang
Cast: Xin Baiqing/Huang Yao/Tian Zhuangzhuang
Synopsis: Gu Wentong learns the whereabouts of his father, who lost contact with him more than 40 years ago. Encouraged by his new friend, Gu Wentong decides to face his father and rebuild the long-lost father-son relationship.
Beyond the Skies
Screening time: Thursday 15th May, 18:00 pm
Year: 2021
Duration: 86 mins
Director: Liu Zhihai
Cast: Chen Weixin/Wu Jiahui/Nie Jinquan
Synopsis: To be or not to be is the question that Beyond the Skies asks. The war film follows a young soldier named Hong Qichen, who trudges through the bloodstained ruins in his deadly mission to blow up the enemy’s ammunition depot within 48 hours. He puts together a squad of wounded soldiers in the treacherous mountains for a knock-down drag-out fight. Questioning whether their sacrifices are worth it, his brothers in arms fall in front of his eyes. The mission gets harder and harder to complete as time passes. Those who believe persist; others sink into the abyss of history.
Lost in the Stars
Screening time:
Monday 12th May, 18:00 pm
Friday 16th May, 18:00 pm
Year: 2022
Duration: 121 mins
Director: Cui Rui/Liu Xiang
Cast: Zhu Yilong/Ni Ni/Wen Yongshan
Synopsis: He Fei’s wife, Li Muzi, disappears during their anniversary trip. When she reappears, he insists that she is not his wife. As Chen Mai, a top lawyer gets involved in this bizarre case, more mysteries start to emerge.
Closing Film: Strangers When We Meet
Screening time: Saturday 17th May, 18:00 pm
Year: 2024
Duration: 108 mins
Director: Zhang Guoli
Cast: Fan Wei/Zhou Dongyu/Song Jia
Synopsis: Qin, was released from prison after serving 27 years. He just wanted to get married and have children and start a new life, but he unexpectedly met Chang Juan, a girl who had also just been released from prison.
