In the late 20th century, ordinary worker Li Mingqi takes up his father’s unfinished dream of flying. His experiment leaves his brother-in-law disabled. With China’s reform and opening up, Li and his wife start a dance hall in an abandoned factory museum, using a hot air balloon to attract foreigners. Yet life on the ground can’t seem to confine a soul with wounded wings. Desperately trying to save his critically ill nephew, he straps on his self-invented flying machine once more and soars into the sky…
Born in 1982, Pengfei is a Chinese director and screenwriter. Upon graduating from International Institute of Image and Sound (3iS) in France, he started his career working closely with Taiwanese auteur Tsai Ming-liang. In 2013, he collaborated with Tsai as a co-writer for STRAY DOGS which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 70th Venice International Film Festival. His directorial debut feature UNDERGROUND FRAGRANCE (2015) was awarded the Fedeora Award for Best Film in Venice Days of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, as well as the Gold Hugo for Best Film in New Directors Competition at the 51st Chicago International Film Festival. In 2017, his sophomore feature THE TASTE OF RICE FLOWER premiered in Venice Days at the 74th Venice International Film Festival with the distinction of Special Mention. His last film TRACING HER SHADOW (2020) was selected in Competition at the 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival. TAKE OFF (2025) is his most recent film, set to premiere in Competition at Tokyo International Film Festival
Shanghai Maoyan Pictures
Shanghai Haimu Film Group
China Film Creative
Beijing Pineapple Street Film
Tianjin Maoyan Weying
Jiang Qiming
Li Xueqin
Dong Baoshi
Jiang Wu
Dong Zijian
Yang Le
Ying Ze
Lei Jiayin
Jiang Yi
Director: Pengfei
Screenwriters: Pengfei, Xu Yizhou, Shuang Xuetao
Based on: The Aeronaut by Shuang Xuetao
Director of Photography: Lv Songye
Art Director: Liu Qing
Original Music: Suzuki Keiichi
Editor: Huang Zeng Hongchen,
Sound Designer: He Wei
Visual Effects Supervisor: Zhang Yu
Styling Director: Han Yuchao
Gaffer: Li Zhiqiang
Chief Producers: Ren Xiaoyi, Ma Xiang
Producers: Cai Mingyang, Song Zizheng
Executive Producers: Shuang Xuetao, Wang Hongwei
Tokyo International Film Festival
Main Competition
