Ascension (film)
Ascension | |
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Directed by | Jessica Kingdon |
Produced by |
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Cinematography |
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Edited by | Jessica Kingdon |
Music by | Dan Deacon |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | MTV Documentary Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 97 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Languages | Mandarin English |
Box office | $17,200[2] |
Ascension (Chinese: 登楼叹) is a 2021 American documentary film directed and produced by Jessica Kingdon. It follows the pursuit of the Chinese dream through the social classes, prioritizing productivity and innovation.
The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021, where it won Best Documentary Feature. It was released on October 8, 2021, by MTV Documentary Films.
Plot[]
The film follows the Chinese dream through the social classes, prioritizing productivity and innovation.
Production[]
Initially, Jessica Kingdon planned on making a trilogy of short films focusing on the cycle of production, consumption and waste, however, it was difficult to secure funding for a series, and instead decided to develop the trilogy into a feature film.[3] Kingdon wanted to make a film about capitalism and how it affects viewers in their own countries, and did not want to specifically single out China.[4] Production on the film took place in 51 locations throughout China.[5] The title of the film originates from a poem written by Jessica Kingdon's great-grandfather.[6]
Release[]
The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021, where it won Best Documentary Feature and the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director.[7][8] On September 26, 2021 the film had its European premiere at the Zurich Film Festival, where it was entered in the competition for best documentary film.[9]
In August 2021, it was announced MTV Documentary Films had acquired distribution rights to the film, and set it for an October 8, 2021, release.[10]
Critical reception[]
Ascension received positive reviews from film critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a 95% approval rating based on reviews from 19 critics, with an average rating of 7.90/10.[11] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 82 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[12]
Accolades[]
Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
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Tribeca Film Festival | June 24, 2021 | Best Documentary Feature | Ascension | Won | [8] |
Albert Maysles Award | Jessica Kingdon | Won | |||
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards | November 14, 2021 | Best Documentary Feature | Ascension | Nominated | [13] |
Best Director | Jessica Kingdon | Nominated | |||
Best First Documentary Feature | Nominated | ||||
Best Score | Dan Deacon | Nominated | |||
Best Cinematography | Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell | Nominated | |||
Best Editing | Jessica Kingdon | Nominated | |||
Gotham Awards | November 29, 2021 | Best Documentary | Ascension | Nominated | [14] |
Cinema Eye Honors | January 13, 2022 | Outstanding Non-Fiction Feature Feature | Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy and Nathan Truesdell | Pending | [15] |
Outstanding Direction | Jessica Kingdon | Pending | |||
Outstanding Debut | Pending | ||||
Outstanding Cinematography | Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell | Pending | |||
Outstanding Original Score | Dan Deacon | Pending | |||
Producers Guild of America Awards | February 26, 2022 | Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures | Ascension | Pending | [16] |
References[]
- ^ "Ascension". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Ascension (2021)". The Numbers. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ Wissot, Lauren (June 12, 2021). ""I'm Drawn to Spaces Where the Paradoxes of Everyday Life are Made Apparent": Jessica Kingdon on her Tribeca-Premiering Ascension". Filmmaker. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ A. Lee, Vicki (June 10, 2021). "Tribeca 2021 Women Directors: Meet Jessica Kingdon – "Ascension"". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ Shechet Epstein, Sonia (June 16, 2021). "Director Interview: Jessica Kingdon's Ascension at Tribeca". Science and Film. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Ascension – Q&A with Jessica Kingdon". National Board of Review. 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Announcing The Feature Film Lineup For Tribeca 2021". Tribeca Film Festival. April 20, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ a b Hipes, Patrick (June 17, 2021). "Tribeca Festival Winners: Lauren Hadaway's 'The Novice', 'Brighton 4th', 'Ascension' Take Top Honors". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Ascension". zff.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Lang, Brent (August 12, 2021). "MTV Documentary Films Buys 'Ascension,' Plans Awards Push (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ "Ascension (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Ascension". Metacritic. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (October 8, 2021). "'Ascension' and 'Summer of Soul' Lead Critics Choice Documentary Nominations". IndieWire. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (November 30, 2021). "Gotham Awards: 'The Lost Daughter' Wins Top Prize — See the Full List of Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (November 10, 2021). "'Flee' & 'Summer Of Soul' Lead Cinema Eye Honors Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ Pond, Steve (December 10, 2021). "'Ascension,' 'Flee' and 'Summer of Soul' Land Producers Guild Documentary Nominations". TheWrap. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
External links[]
- 2021 films
- 2021 documentary films
- American documentary films
- American films
- Documentary films about businesspeople
- Works about capitalism
- Anti-capitalism