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PROGRAM DETAILS
Film Available to Stream
Sat, Nov 6 at 12:01 am – Sat, Nov 6 at 11:59 pm PT
Description
Wielding an inquisitive camera and crafting a kaleidoscope of vignettes, Jessica Kingdon’s debut feature film is a visceral exploration of contemporary China’s identity and the paradoxes of economic progress. Deftly observing factory workers create everything from binoculars to sex dolls, the film tracks the collective pursuit of professional success in a communist society. With pathos and humor, Kingdon captures the intense physical demands, aggressive corporate policies, and creative collaboration that fuel the ever-expanding labor force of the People’s Republic of China. The filmmaker leaves you to ponder the costs of commodification while also shining a light on the resiliency of the human spirit.
New York-based Jessica Kingdon is a Chinese-American director/producer named one of “25 New Faces of Independent Film” by Filmmaker Magazine and selected for the 2020 DOC NYC “40 Under 40” list. Her award-winning short Commodity City (2017) was shortlisted for a Cinema Eye Honor and has played at over 50 film festivals. Jessica’s producer credits include Tania Cypriano’s Born to Be (2019), Ian Bell’s 808: How We Respond (2019), Nathan Truesdell’s The Water Slide (2018), and Johnny Ma’s Old Stone (2016). Jessica’s recent feature debut, Ascension, premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Festival where it won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary.
Film Details
Language Mandarin
Year 2021
Premiere Bay Area
Runtime 98
Country USA, China
Director Jessica Kingdon
Executive Producer Ryan Kampe, David Dolby, Natasha Dolby, Kathryn Everett, Bryn Mooser, Tony Hsieh
Producer Kira Simon-Kennedy, Jessica Kingdon, Nathan Truesdell
Editor Jessica Kingdon
Cinematographer Jessica Kingdon, Nathan Truesdell
Music Dan Deacon
Print Source
MTV Documentary Films
Michael Tuckman
michael@mtuckmanmedia.com