WINNER OF 2021 festival jury award: best international documentary feature

In a matter of decades, China has transformed from an impoverished country with a closed society into one of the world’s largest and most influential economies. What happens to people when their nation undergoes such drastic reforms in such a short span of time? Some have come into previously unimaginable wealth, while in other parts of the country, millions remain in poverty. Millions more strive to achieve the "Chinese Dream."

Chinese-American director Jessica Kingdon explores China from the perspective of someone interested in discovering their heritage and understanding this new global superpower, one that has transformed unimaginably from the country her ancestors experienced.

Driven by mesmerizing--and sometimes humorous-- imagery, ASCENSION presents a contemporary vision of China that prioritizes productivity and innovation above all.