A Gong, a graduation short film project directed and written by a graduate of the School of Communication’s Academy of Film Mr Huang Hang (Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media), has been chosen to compete for awards at Kinoproba, the 14th International Festival-Workshop of Film Schools in Russia.

A Gong is a dark comedy about a paralysed old man and a young man with cognitive disability making their escape from a nursing home. The old man was sent to the nursing home because his family was too busy and could not take care of him. Their adventurous escape journey begins when the old man gets frustrated after failing to find a lighter anywhere to light a cigarette. In desperation, they band together and run away.

Explaining the inspiration for the film, Mr Huang said, “It is actually based on the story of my grandfather, who has been living in the nursing home for many years. Just like in the film, he is paralysed and yearns to come home.” Though the storyline would not likely occur in real life, Mr Huang wishes to bring his grandfather home.

Mr Huang also hopes that people could show more care towards their elderly loved ones by spending more time with them. “The actors are ordinary people and they are not professionals, so they truly reveal how lonely and miserable the characters in the film are.” To strengthen the message the director wanted to deliver, all the interviews in the film are of real people telling their story.

Kinoproba takes place annually in December, offering students from film schools around the world myriad programmes such as a film competition, workshops and master classes.