The Tibetan plateau in the 1980s. No more condoms. No more children allowed. No easy answers.

A lyrical and beguiling film from one of the world’s finest directors.

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Sex, faith and politics collide in Pema Tseden's exceptional new film. When Drolkar’s two boisterous youngest sons blow up the household’s few remaining condoms, mistaking them for balloons, she’s left with an impossible decision. China has just introduced its One Child Policy and with three children already, there’s no way she can have another. But her husband, Dargye, is still as horny as one of his prize rams...

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Tseden deftly balances his challenging subject matter with moments of humour and great tenderness. With its cool colour palette, attentive handheld camerawork, and painterly passages that seem to transpire somewhere between this world and the next, Balloon approaches its story with a sense of wonder and features scene-stealing performances from the two young boys.

AWARDS

Nominated: Best Film  —  76th Venice International Film Festival (Horizons Section)

Special Mention: Sfera 1932 Award  —  76th Venice International Film Festival

Winner: Silver Hugo, Best Screenplay  —  Chicago Interational Film Festival 2019

Winner: Grand Prize  —  Tokyo Filmex 2019

Winner: Best Director & Best Screenplay  —  Shanghai International Film Festival 2020

Nominated: Best Director, Best Screenwriter & Best Cinematographer  —  Asian Film Awards 2020

Nominated: NETPAC Award, Best Picture & Best Director  —  Asian Film Critics Association Awards 2020

THE DIRECTOR

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The first ethnic Tibetan to attend the Beijing Film Academy, Pema Tseden has established himself as one of the most talented filmmakers working in China today.

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Tseden's films are shot in the Amdo region and feature performers speaking in his native Amdo-Tibetan language.

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His work has been championed by Wong Kar Wai, who produced his 2018 feature, Jinpa, winner of Best Screenplay in the Horizons category at Venice. His previous feature, Tharlo was nominated for Best Film in the Horizons category at Venice and released in the UK and Ireland by Day for Night in 2016. 

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Tseden is also an award-winning author. His works have been translated into English, French, German, Czech and Japanese.

CREDITS

Written and Directed by Pema Tseden

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Cast: Sonam Wangmo, Jinpa, Yangshik Tso

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Director of Photography: Lu Songye

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Editors: Liao Ching-Sung, Jin Di

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Music: Peyman Yazdanian

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Producers: Huang Xufeng, Jacky Pang

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Co-Producers: Liang Ying, Song Jia

A BFI FAN NEW RELEASE

We're delighted to be partnering with the BFI Film Audience Network for the release of Balloon.

As a BFI FAN New Release title, BFI FAN members can expect:

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• Audio descriptive and captioned versions of the film

• Marketing pack and assets including programme notes

• Freelance marketing support in every Film Hub area

• Pre-recorded Q&A with film talent available (information coming soon)

• Advice from Inclusive Cinema for exhibitors putting on accessible screenings

• Budget for Facebook/social media ads

Click here to find out more about the BFI FAN New Release scheme.

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FOR BOOKINGS OF BALLOON PLEASE CONTACT: 

duncan@day-for-night.org

Supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and Lottery funding from the BFI.

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