All the Crows in the World

Language: Mandarin, with English subtitles

天下烏鴉/天下乌鸦

Synopsis A 18-year-old school girl is invited to attend a mysterious dinner party that is full of greasy middle-aged men. But there is also a different man named Jianguo who will lead a new journey for the girl. What will happen to her?

Director’s Statement I had been asked by my elders to sing and dance at the wine table since I was a child, and I never felt uncomfortable about it. But once I was taken to a restaurant full of strangers and forced to make a toast to every “Uncle”. In order to please everyone, I had to do it. Until they asked me if I wanted to sing karaoke, things began to go crazy, because later we went to a nightclub. At the age of 18, for the first time in my life, I saw a group of women standing in a row waiting to be picked by men. That experience has always been unforgettable to me. I have to tell this story and share my experience. Thanks to Fresh Wave and that’s how I managed to make this film.

Festivals & Awards

2021 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or - Short Film Winner

2021 Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival - Best Screenplay, Best Director