Critics Week
The Botanist
Set in a remote village in Xinjiang, The Botanist follows a young Kazakh boy named Arsin, who finds solace in the company of plants. He soon meets Meiyu, a spirited Han girl whose unpredictable nature reminds him of a rare, otherworldly plant. As their friendship blossoms, it deepens into a delicate, dreamlike allegory that blurs the lines between reality and the enchanting world of botany.
| Start | End | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-18 15:00:00 | 2025-11-18 15:00 | Opera House - Small Theatre |
| 2025-11-20 12:00:00 | 2025-11-20 12:00 | Opera House - Hanager Theatre |
Film Details
Director: Jing YI
Countries: China
Languages:
Runtime:
Color: Color
Jing YI
He was born in 1994 and raised in Xinjiang, is a Beijing Film Academy graduate. His debut feature The Botanist (2025) won the New Horse Award at the Asian Project Market. His shorts screened at over 70 festivals, winning 20+ awards. He co-wrote Displaced (Cannes, Sundance, TIFF) and developed The Odyssey of Joy through Berlinale Script Station and Torino Film Lab.
Additional Information
Contacts:
Writers: Jing Yi
Cast: Jahseleh Yesl, Ren Zihan, Nurdaolet Jalen, Eramazan Sarhet, Jomajan Songhat
Production Company:
Producer: Shan Zuolong, Qi Ai
Editor: Jing Yi
Cinematographer: Li Vanon