Festival 2024 Lineup & Schedule

Spinach is the main source of income for Uncle's family. Set during the third year of COVID-19, as China abruptly shifts its pandemic policies, the family grapples with conflicting emotions—grateful for the government's protective measures yet frustrated by the loss of livelihood. This documentary captures the complexity of their experience, reflecting the wider sentiment of millions across the country.

As night falls, the whistle blows, and the realm of the young unfolds. They ride through the darkness, following pre-programmed paths, moving stealthily towards hidden goals, gathering and dispersing in silence. By the time the sun rises, every trace of their presence has vanished. This is a tale of secret endeavors, tracing the footsteps of these youths, a brutal story of adolescence.

“The real is rational, and the rational is real”, says German Philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. But when the pandemic hits Germany, everything changes. Chinese student Pingjust started his philosophy studies and faces many obstacles: hostility, loneliness, lockdown. On a dating app he receives spicy photos from Max, who proposes a “social distance hook-up”. Ping is excited and embarks on his adventure. Offered a mysterious drug, he is about to have sex, when he suddenly notices a book by Hegel. It sucks him into a drug induced reflection about free will and reality, which kills the vibe of the moment. He flees after an argument and loses himself in the drug experience. The next morning, he makes another unexpected discovery – and all that because of Hegel (Wegen Hegel).

In a southern industrial zone, a wandering fool perceives everyone around him as giant rats. After embarking on a journey into the city, he returns transformed into a giant rat himself. This surreal tale explores themes of identity and the absurdity of societal norms through the eyes of its protagonist.