Children of the Land

Odyssey 2025 Official Selection

阿利亚的吉尔巴拉

UK Online Premiere

In Altay, Xinjiang, speed-skating prodigy Aliya, haunted by fear after an accident, is ultimately healed by friendship and the land’s embrace, finding the courage to overcome her shadows and restore her bond with Gilbara.

Also official selection of:

2025 Shanghai International Film Festival

OUR TAKE

Children of the Land is a story about fear and growth. After an accident leaves Aliya with hidden scars, her bond with Gilbara is tested as they take different paths in skating. Through training and daily life, the film shows how the young ones confront themselves and rebuild connections, offering audiences a glimpse of the distinctive spirit of young athletes from China’s borderlands.

Yuzhuo Wang (Curator for the New China Talents section)