• Free entrance
• Where? : Kinograph - See U - 227 avenue de la Couronne, 1050 Ixelles
• Languages: Northwestern Chinese Dialect, Mandarin Chinese, Tibetan
• Subtitles: English and Chinese

23/10 ▬▬▬

▬ 19h

Opening and welcome drink

• Tony de Vuyst (PointCulture, director)
• Lu Xiaohong (ULB’s Confucius Institute, Chinese director)

▬ 20h30

The Road Not Taken 未择之路 (113 min / 2018)

• Director: Tang Gaopeng
• An indebted ostrich farmer, an unidentified boy and a female trucker cross their path in Western China. For three days and two nights, the trio with vastly different personalities briefly forms a family group to cross the Gobi desert on one of the many roads not taken. The film is Director Tang Gaopeng's debut feature film. It won the Best Picture Award at the 2018 Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talent Competition.
• Lang. Northwestern Chinese Dialect / Subt. English and Chinese

Film introduction and contextualization by Olivier Meys, Belgian Director

24/10 ▬▬▬

▬ 19h00

In My Eyes盲行者 (93 min / 2018)

• Director: Han Yi
• With a white cane and a few English words, a blind Chinese man travels to 34 countries on six continents in five years, defying dangers and difficulties. The documentary is the directorial debut of female filmmaker Han Yi, who is the producer of China Heavyweight which won the Golden Horse Award for Best Documentary in 2012. In My Eyes was shortlisted for the 2018 Shanghai International Film Festival’s Golden Goblet Award Competition.
• Lang. Mandarin Chinese / Subt. English and Chinese

Film introduction and contextualization by Marie Vermeiren: Festival Elles Tournent co-founder and Chinese cinema specialist.

▬ 21h00

Blue Amber 淡蓝琥珀 (96 min / 2018)

• Director: Zhou Jie
• When a traffic accident claims the life of He Jie’s husband, a substantial life insurance payment does little to heal the grief. One day, a rare piece of blue amber prompted her to contemplate the value of life. She starts to interact with the family involved in the killing of her husband. She experiences loss of control over her emotions, but eventually learns to let go and move on with her life. Director Zhou Jie’s debut feature film explores a woman’s inner world and the essence of life. It offers riveting glimpses into the city of Chongqing from the eyes of a migrant worker. The film won the Best Cinematography Award at the 2018 Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talent Competition.
• Lang. Mandarin Chinese / Subt. English and Chinese

Film introduction and contextualization by Marie Vermeiren: Festival Elles Tournent co-founder and Chinese cinema specialist.

25/10 ▬▬▬

▬ 19h00

Ala Changso 阿拉姜色 (109 min / 2018)

• Director: Sonthar Gyal
• Drolma, a Tibetan woman with life-threatening illness, sets out on foot for the holy city of Lhasa. Her current husband and young son subsequently join to accompany her. Amidst the grueling trek, the family members gradually set aside their differences and come to new understandings of each other. As Tibetan director Sonthar Gyal’ latest work on family and redemption, the film won the Grand Jury and Best Screenplay prizes at the 2018 Shanghai International Film Festival’s Golden Goblet Award Competition.
• Lang. Tibetan / Subt. English and Chinese

Film introduction and contextualization by Vanessa Frangville: Chair of Chinese Language and Culture, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Department of Languages and Letters. Director of EASt (centre for East Asian studies at the ULB). Member of the Direction committee of Philixte (ULB research center)

Shanghai Art Film Federation

Founded in 2013, Shanghai Art Film Federation (SAFF) is an affiliate of the Shanghai Film Distribution and Exhibition Association. Under the guidance of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Film, its mission is to promote and showcase art films from China and overseas, enabling such films to be part of the regular film-going options of the Shanghai audience. It is also committed to showcasing Chinese art cinema on the international stage.