The Rice Paddy (La Riziere) 82min, China/France

Set amidst stunning mountain scenery in Guangxi Province, southern China, this is the first film to be shot in the Dong language, follows the life of 12-year-old A Qiu. She aspires to be a writer and travel the world. Her parents are migrant workers in the city, but the death of her grandmother forces them to return to their home and the family rice paddy. The story evolves over the four seasons with sumptuous cinematography, punctuated by a beautiful score including traditional Dong music. Yet, it is equally a comment on contemporary youth in an increasingly modern and changing China.