A TORTOISE’S YEAR OF FATE
​​​​​by Yi Xiong

20min | China | 2023

A factory worker longing for hope in his impoverished life and trying to liberate himself from his unpromising future. A melancholic tale of modernity and the decay
of liberty.

Original Title Yi zhi wu gui de ben ming nian
Year of production 2023
Length 20'
Country China
Shooting Format ARRI Alexa Mini
Aspect Ratio 3:2
Dialogue Mandarin
​
Director Yi Xiong
Producer Zhenyi Li
Associate Producer Huihui Lou
Line Producer Izy Kung
Screenwriter Yi Xiong
Cinematographer Qi Wu
Editor Sylvia Cong
Production Designer Xiaoxiao Zhu
Colorist Qi Wu
Sound Design Guozhen Li, Shiwen Zhu
1st Assistant Director Ziye Huang
Post Sound Company Fruit Film Studio Music Music Chamberlain Zhang
Costume & Makeup Yuanjiao Zhang
​Cast Ziyun Xiong, Zifeng Lin, Wuyang Zhang, Yu Sun, Deping Gu

Festival selections
​​​Locarno Film Festival 2023, Switzerland - World Premiere
​Orvieto Cinema Fest 2023, Italy
​Pingyao International Film Festival 2023, China
Film Front International Short Film Festival 2023, Serbia
Zagreb Film Festival 2023, Croatia
​Laceno d'oro International Film Festival 2023, Italy
​Ismailia International Film Festival 2024, Egypt
​Landshut Short Film Festival 2024, Germany
20minmax International Short Film Festival 2024, Germany
Yerevan Short Film Festival 2024, Armenia
​​Stretto Film Festival 2024, Italy
​Golden Grape Short Film Festival 2024, Georgia -Special Jury Mention
​​PriFest - Prishtina International Film Festival 2024, Kosovo
​
Director's Statement
A Tortoise's Year Of Fate is a film centered around a despondent steel factory worker trying to find hope in a deprived neighborhood. It explores the universal longing for a sense of belonging, a theme that resonates with me personally. Throughout my life, I've sought this connection in my surroundings, friendships, and family ties. In my film, the protagonist embodies this yearning as a passive character trapped in this journey of finding his place. By immersing him in a factory setting, I aim to delve into his relationships, interactions, and environment through long takes.