2035

2035 was recently announced as an award winner of the Venice Shorts of Los Angeles. When a monkey absconds with his travel documents, a solitary traveler finds himself stranded in a remote border village inhabited by a Chinese ethnic minority. In his quest to recover his papers, he encounters a mysterious woman who shares his predicament, as well as an AI robot revered by the villagers as Buddha. Just as he retrieves his documents and prepares to continue his journey, he hesitates. The cries of the monkeys draw him into a dense forest, where a spiraling beam of light engulfs everything, hinting at the advent of an unknown future.

This film offers an impartial exploration of the clash between technology and religious belief, globalization and traditional culture, and the bewilderment of humanity in the post-pandemic era. The traveler's experience mirrors the uncertainty of this historical moment, and the story's climax invites the audience to ponder the present and future. What lies ahead?

Wang Qijie (Benny Wang) is among the emerging Chinese filmmakers of his generation. He studied Directing at the New York Film Academy, focusing on storytelling and visual impact.

Benny Wang produced the film "Fleeting Stranger" in collaboration with an artist, earning the Short Film Award at the 2017 ISA Los Angeles Film Festival and being shortlisted at the 12th AAC Art China Awards. In 2019, he produced "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," which won the Short Film Award at the 2020 ISA Los Angeles Film Festival and received 5 nominations for A-Level AAC Short Film Awards. He also acted in the film "Absence," which was nominated for Best Picture in The Programme of Encounters at the 73rd Berlinale.