It has been revealed that V.C.’s debut feature Time and Tide has found an international outlet with Paris-based Inwave Films.
The hybrid non-fiction film had its world premiere at Vision du Rille’s Burning Lights competition earlier this year and will be introduced to buyers as the company prepares the documentary.
Set in a remote town in China, Time and Tide depicts the disintegration of a family after the patriarch suffers a stroke. His estranged wife has been hoping to break free from their long unhappy marriage, but his second daughter is raising their child alone on a limited budget and must shoulder the burden of caring for him. Drawing on his own family history, director Shi examines aging, domestic violence, and intergenerational obligations in contemporary China, using a method that combines closely observed filmmaking with a formally original cinematic language.
Following the award of Vision du Rille, the film won the Documentary Australia Award at the Sydney Film Festival. The film will next be screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
“‘Time and Tide’ is a raw and intimate hybrid nonfiction film that turns one family’s crisis into a broader reflection on aging, caregiving, violence, and responsibility in modern China,” said the team at InWave Films. “For us, ‘Time and Tide’ stands out as one of the most compelling Asian documentaries to be released this year. The film is deeply honest in its subject matter and strikingly original in form. We are struck by the courage and emotional openness of this filmmaking approach and are proud to support its international journey. We believe its deeply personal yet universal story will resonate with audiences around the world.”
Director Shi, who first gained attention with award-winning short films such as “Jia” before making his feature debut, said, “‘Time and Tide’ is intimate and specific in story and locale, yet universal in theme, and speaks to the broader experience of modern China.” “We were looking for a distributor that understood both the movie audience and the international market, but more importantly, was willing to work with us on our international strategy. InWave ticks all those boxes.”
The deal expands on InWave Films’ recent focus on selling feature-length documentaries. The company has recently also participated in the Berlinale title “Lust” directed by Larissa Petrova, expanding its range of activities with a focus on films by internationally recognized authors.
“Time and Tide” was written and directed by Shi and produced by Nicholson Wren and Shi for Niu Studios in association with Big & Little Film. Michael McMahon will serve as executive producer along with Ren and Cee. Len also served as director of photography, with editing by Cee, original music by Luna Pan, and sound post-production by Music & Effects.
