Screening Schedule | May 5 The Latitude of Faith

The Indian Ocean is not static; it is a flowing memory and a silent epitaph. The whispers of old gods, the scars of tides, trafficked faiths and drifting identities layer upon one another and intertwine endlessly across these waters. Its language is slow and fragmented, like an incantation murmured softly in a dream. Tectonic plates drift, moving not just the earth’s surface, but also the breaths forgotten by history and overlooked by reality. And moving images are the echoes rising to the surface.

An Elephant Sitting Still imbues these tectonic plates with a heavy texture. The camera lingers close to the brink of despair, letting silence speak for all unspeakable pain. The characters are trapped in fissures, struggling to breathe. The elephant stands silent and enigmatic, distant almost to the point of illusion, yet pointing toward an unspoken hope that still burns undimmed. To immerse ourselves more deeply in the unique charm of this film, we invite all on-site audiences to sit on the ground and gaze at this "elephant" hidden within the room from an eye-level perspective.

Every character in Crocodile Angel drifts amid desire, while the Leshan Giant Buddha stands as a witness to all the turmoil, watching silently over everything. Though desire takes ever-changing forms, its essence and human nature seem never to alter. The symbols and metaphors woven into the film explore the recurring cravings and inescapable predicaments inherent to humanity. Find The Lost crafts a viewing experience transcending "spiritual power" through ingenious editing structure, unforgettable character interactions, and fluid cinematography. With these artistic techniques, the creator delicately unfolds the touching essence of familial affection and portrays a spiritual pilgrimage, blending lighthearted wit with profound emotional depth.

Through animation, Bergamot gazes upon a corner of the human body, turning the touch of hands into emotional resonance beyond words. It subtly merges reality and symbolism to deliver a wordless emotional expression, stirring cross-temporal empathy in the audience. And I Talk Like A River tells the story of marginalized existences under the guise of mythical creatures. Through symbolic devices and nuanced emotional depiction, the film unfolds the intricate entanglement between humanity and nature. Fairy tales have long faded away, leaving behind an unplaceable sense of otherness and subtle melancholy.

The Lake explores the complex bonds between humanity and nature, tradition and modernity through the protagonist’s spiritual journey. As the core symbol of the film, The Lake embodies tranquility and sanctity, while mirroring the protagonist’s inner awakening and quest for the meaning of life. This poetic natural stage also lets audiences perceive the impermanence of life and the power of growth. After the short film screening, we will hold a special seminar themed "What Is the Latitude of Faith?" to jointly explore the intersections between faith and art.

"The height of latitude is not merely a geographical coordinate, but also a spiritual spectrum of faith." These works do not merely narrate—they evoke; they do not define—they point the way. Unrushed in expression, they unfold slowly and implicitly, like faint glimmers beneath the seabed, waiting for those willing to gaze closely to draw near. Beyond the film screenings, we will showcase a diverse array of cross-media artworks, aiming to reveal how artists of varying styles respond to theological rituals, spiritual experiences, and geopolitical culture within the contemporary context. Additionally, multiple workshops closely linked to religious faith will be held on-site, inviting everyone to engage in in-depth exploration and immersive experience within this fluid space brimming with spiritual energy.

Screening List

An Elephant Sitting Still

（Special Screening）

Director: Hu Bo | Chinese Mainland | 2018 | 234 minutes

Synopsis: Faced with the awkwardness and setbacks of the world, the teenage Wei Blur blurs the boundary of reality based on the Greek myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece in his memory, and constructs his own version of truth. In his narrative, he flees home after severely injuring the most tyrannical student at school to protect his best friend. Wang Jin, a sixty-year-old neighbor who has been driven out of his family, comes to his aid. Huang Ling, a girl in his class, also forms a mysterious and tragic bond with him and this experience. Meanwhile, violent pursuers as ruthless as venomous dragons, together with cold school authorities and parents, lay traps all over the city to hunt down Wei Blur. He wanders across the wasteland and finally confronts real life once again.

Director's Statement: "There is a secret hidden in the beauty of the world. When the heart of the world beats, mankind must pay a terrible price; beauty and pain ebb and flow inversely, and amid such perpetual alternation, the splendor of a single flower demands the cost of blood." This quote from Cormac McCarthy's work serves as the core theme of the film. It is extremely hard for people to gain or even believe in the slightest thing, and such a sense of frustration defines the spirit of this era. This is a film that narrates a personal myth through ordinary life experiences, in which every character loses what matters most to them.

Director Introduction: Born in 1988, Hu Bo graduated from the Directing Department of the Beijing Film Academy. He directed numerous short films and was admitted to the 2014 Golden Horse Film Academy. An Elephant Sitting Still (original title: Golden Fleece) was selected as an annual project of the 2016 FIRST Venture Capital Meeting. Meanwhile, as a director of the 2017 FIRST Training Camp, Hu Bo completed the short film The Man in the Well.

In 2017, Hu Bo finished his debut feature film An Elephant Sitting Still, which was selected for the Forum section of the 68th Berlin International Film Festival. It won the GWFF Best First Feature Special Mention and the FIPRESCI Prize, and later claimed the Audience Award at the 42nd Hong Kong International Film Festival. The film was subsequently screened at over 30 film festivals across countries and regions worldwide, including New Directors/New Films and the Toronto International Film Festival.

As a novelist, Hu Bo published the collection of novellas and short stories The Crack in 2017. The titular novella The Crack won the First Prize at the 6th World Chinese Film Novel Award in Taiwan. His first full-length novel Bullfrog was also published in 2017, and his short story collection Lamo in the Distance was scheduled for release in 2018.

Crocodile Angel

Director: Su Jiayi | Chinese Mainland | 2024 | 24 Minutes

Synopsis: Photographer Alai is immersed in a bygone era, attempting to document everything fading away in the city of Leshan, including the woman whose fate is inextricably intertwined with his as if through reincarnation. There is a woman who keeps running and falling at the center of the whirlpool, a Seventh Uncle who copies Buddhist scriptures all the time, a mother hiding deep secrets, a little dog accompanied by spirits, and a statue of a woman lying bare-backed on the back of a crocodile. This time, under the gaze of the giant Buddha, the desires and predicaments of all living beings seem destined to unfold in an extraordinary way...

Find The Lost

Director: Maurice | Chinese Mainland | 2024 | 20 Minutes

Synopsis: Aunt Mei (played by Yan Jingli), who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, goes missing. Her son A Qiang (played by A Tuan) searches for her relentlessly but in vain. That night, Uncle Jian (played by Liu Guosheng), A Qiang's father who had passed away long ago, suddenly appears. He leads A Qiang on a journey to find Aunt Mei, and unfolds a scroll of his romantic memories with Aunt Mei from years gone by for his son.

Bergamot

Director: Liang Yanqi | Chinese Mainland | 2023 | 6 Minutes

Synopsis: Bergamot explores the dual mother-daughter relationship that evolves with growth. The Buddha's hand fruit and a human hand are similar yet distinct, opposing yet integrated—just like a mother and daughter, alike but not identical, conflicting yet interdependent, apart yet inseparably bonded.

And I Talk Like A River

Director: Qian Ning | Chinese Mainland | 2023 | 12 Minutes

Synopsis: Hidden memories in a teenage boy's heart—of a social outcast shunned by everyone by the lake, and the half-real, half-fantastic legend of the kappa. Curiosity, restlessness and unease intertwine and grow... until he discovers the wild beast lurking deep in every person's soul.

The Lake

Director: Tsering Yangjom | Chinese Mainland | 2023 | 12 minutes

Synopsis: After experiencing repeated failures, shepherd Reya fulfills his grandmother's last wish in his own way.

Events Introduction

Tarot Workshop

This is a divination workshop designed for inspiration, healing and self-awareness, as well as an energy crystal resonance experience triggered by Tarot. With the Tarot cards as a guide, we will help you connect with your inner self, perceiving your true emotions, desires and energy flow in the present moment.

Led by Tangi and Liz, the founders of the 700QiBai brand, you will embark on a quiet and clear journey of inner exploration: from shuffling and drawing cards to interpretation, every card reflects your current state. As the imagery of energy is revealed, we will find the crystal that resonates with you—it may serve as a resonant medium to help you express yourself, ease anxiety, or awaken your intuition.

Throughout this process, we do not emphasize the "mystery" of Tarot, but focus more on the interaction between you and it; we do not talk about the "functions" of crystals, but listen to the responses of physical energy and spiritual intuition.

You can think of this experience as a mirror and a conversation — an encounter with cosmic energy, and also a reunion with yourself.

Whether you come with a question, a certain state of mind, or just pure curiosity. Welcome to this small space of spiritual perception, where Tarot opens up a path and crystals respond to its energy.

Chakra Meditation Workshop

Hidden within the body lie seven energy beacons—the chakras, rooting deep into the earth and connecting all the way to the starry sky. They serve as the hubs of life: the sacral chakra nurtures all creation, the heart chakra embraces all living beings, and the third eye chakra perceives ultimate truth...

Balancing these energy centers is like tuning the strings of the mind and body, allowing life force energy to flow naturally. With every breath we take, we are both homecomers and wanderers—returning to the source of life, while embarking on a journey toward broader awakening.

This workshop will guide participants to explore the chakras, learn about the seven energy centers of the body from ancient traditions, and activate and balance one’s own chakras through breathwork and meditation.

Henna Tattoo Workshop

Moongua is an animation director striving to take on new projects, as well as a prickly tattoo artist. Everyone is welcome to experience henna tattoos on-site and preserve the moment as a souvenir through freehand creation.

Dreamcatcher Hand-Weaving Workshop

The Weaving of Dreamcatchers is a spiritual ritual centered on dreams, spiritual protection, and handmade healing. In this workshop, we will not delve into logic nor analyze the structure of dreams. Instead, we will sit together and feel the connection between hands and heart amid strands of thread and a single branch.

Luna will guide everyone to make a unique dreamcatcher of their own in the most natural and primitive way: we will gather branches in the woods, pick yarn colors, thread beads, and weave patterns that represent personal intentions. Throughout this one-hour experience, every stitch and thread we weave crafts a gentle sanctuary for the inner self.

Originating from ancient cultures, the dreamcatcher serves as both a talisman and a symbol. It guards dreams and captures the projections of the soul. It is perhaps not meant for "interpreting dreams", but for helping you reconcile with your dreams, your inner self, and your past.

You are welcome to weave your own unique spiritual guardian net with a dream, a thought, or a strand of emotion in your heart.

Post-Screening Review

On the Indian Ocean section of the second day, we curated a cross-media exhibition with the theme of "Dimensions of Faith", and a one-day integrated screening and spiritual experience was held at Indra Gallery. Before the five short films were screened, we invited each director to record a pre-screening VCR to introduce to the audience the inspiration and motivation behind their creations. In addition, we have also introduced workshops such as tarot divination, "chakra" meditation, Henna tattooing and dreamcatcher weaving, making this art space a convergence point for the senses and the spirit.

Here, the paintings and images of the artists are not only narrating but also summoning. They do not intend to define but quietly point to some deep connection. The pace of the work is slow and the language is obscure, like a faint light at the bottom of the sea, waiting for a viewer willing to approach. That evening, we specially screened Hu Bo's last work, An Elephant Sitting Still, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the spiritual space of the "dimension of faith" in nearly four hours of darkness and silence, and also enabling this curation that transcends culture and spirituality to reach the softest part of the heart.

A group photo of the on-site staff at "The Latitude of Faith"