Official selection

This work takes as its central theme the problematic phenomenon of binge-eating livestreams in contemporary internet culture, and represents it through the metaphor of a towering structure rising from the desert—an allegory of exploitative internet corporations. The protagonist, a man suffering from prolonged poverty and unemployment, is portrayed as perpetually hungry, while the bird accompanying him functions as a projection of his inner self. In the early stages of the narrative, the man, though emaciated, devotes himself to nurturing the bird with genuine affection. However, once targeted by a predatory internet company, he begins livestreaming under the guidance of the bird—an embodiment of his subconscious impulses. As his audience grows and revenue increases, his body fails to endure the excessive consumption demanded by the broadcasts. The bird offers him a tube for vomiting, symbolizing both physical survival and psychological degradation. The man continues to vomit and eat in pursuit of profit, gradually losing control and descending into madness under the domination of monetary desire. It even felt like experiencing hallucinations similar to having taken marijuana. Eventually, the bird dies, signifying the extinction of the man’s last remnant of rationality. With rising income came elevated consumption standards and escalating demands from the company, yet he remains convinced of his ability to “earn again.” In the final scene, he sacrifices the bird to open the last door, only to discover an empty room, with the key to escape hanging from the ceiling. The sole being capable of retrieving it—the bird—has already been killed by his own hands. Confronting the bird’s corpse, he realizes that his health, livelihood, and existence itself have all been exploited and exhausted by the corporate machinery. After his disappearance, the corporation remains unchanged, continuing its cycle of deception and exploitation by ensnaring the next greedy victim. Through this narrative, the work critiques the distorted values of contemporary online society, issues a warning against the excessive consumption of one’s own body in the pursuit of desire, and exposes the relentless exploitative structure of internet corporations.

Desperate for connection, David digs up his brother’s corpse. With their trusty red wagon, they ascend a treacherous mountain in pursuit of their childhood dream.

In The Piston King, we step inside Marco’s world on a fateful night, not on the streets, but in the heart of his workshop. Surrounded by tools, grease, and memories, Marco's hands bring life to machines that are more than just bikes—they're a part of his soul. As he works late into the night, we follow the man behind the passion, where every wrench turn tells a story.

Through a series of animated art boards depicting a decaying Venice, the film unfolds like a set of postcards, capturing the mythical city's final moments of fragility. Blending archival footage with contemporary observations, and anchored by the story of the 1902 collapse of St Mark's Campanile, Venezia Diorama invites us to reflect on a city slowly eroding, yet suspended in time.

A little girl who grew up surrounded by family and friends suddenly falls into a space that only she can enter. Before she realizes it, the time spent alone stirs up an indescribable feeling deep within her heart. But in the empty darkness, what can she possibly hold onto? And where should she go ?