Experiencing Interruptions?

Unknown Species

Lily is a young single mother who gave birth to her son Xiaotaozi ("Little Peach") eight years ago after an unexpected pregnancy. Living in a courtyard in the suburbs of Beijing, she one day reconnects with an old friend Xiaomei, who visits their home. During a day and night of bonding and conversation, Lily confides in Xiaomei about her child’s origins and her life as a single parent. In the following days, Xiaomei’s reappearance soon leads to the emergence of the child’s young biological father.

  • Project Type:
    Feature, Other
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 12 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 11, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 第18届国际电影《西宁》
    第18届国际电影《西宁》
    2024年7月23日
    第一帧
Director Biography

LinglingLing Born and raised in Qinghai Province, she currently resides in Songzhuang, Beijing.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This is my debut feature film, drawing inspiration from my own life and the experiences of women around me. The story explores themes of love, desire, motherhood, and the complex realities women navigate. Through an unconventional lens of mother-child relationships, the film employs understated, everyday cinematography to portray the protagonist Lily's journey as a single mother - her mundane routines and unexpected challenges, while revealing her struggles between romantic love and parental responsibility

About the Film
Shot with minimal resources but maximal passion, this documentary-fiction hybrid explores the fragility of human connections in rapidly urbanizing communities. All actors are non-professional, and the crew consisted primarily of film enthusiasts, aspiring artists, and students – a collective effort that mirrors the film’s grassroots ethos.

Why This Festival?
In 2023, we were honored to be selected in the Women’s Unit of China’s FIRST International Film Festival, a recognition that affirmed our artistic voice. However, lacking further funding, we’ve struggled to submit to additional festivals. Currently, I’m actively researching opportunities on FilmFreeway, particularly focusing on festivals with waived fees, as we believe this story deserves to reach global audiences beyond cultural and geographical boundaries.

Our Commitment
Despite challenges, our team has already begun developing a new project. We view cinema not as a commercial endeavor, but as a vital act of collective expression.

Thank you for considering 《 Unknown Species》. Whether selected or not, we hope its raw, unpolished humanity might resonate with your audience.