Li Xiaofeng

Following a sudden job loss and a devastating breakup, a young man drifts through the margins of a gleaming, modern Beijing. He finds solace in a group of fellow misfits and outcasts, each struggling with their own shattered dreams and social displacement. This melancholic yet visually vibrant film captures the sense of alienation and the search for belonging in a city that is moving too fast. Zhang has always been interested in portraying youth culture in Beijing, from his groundbreaking underground rock film Beijing Bastards (1993) to his new drama Beijing Flickers. Derived from a photographic video installation (viff.org)

In a strict post-1949 Beijing boarding school, four-year-old Qiang struggles to conform to the rigid disciplinary system. He finds himself unable to earn the coveted little red flowers awarded for daily chores and obedience. The film serves as a poignant allegory for social engineering and the loss of individuality, capturing the rebellion and innocence of childhood against institutional control.