Odyssey 2024 Presents: Food Beyond Food

A curated shorts collection from Odyssey 2024's IN COMPETITION and OUT OF COMPETITION strands. 

Can you envision a world where the food you know becomes more than just a meal? Step into these enchanting fantasy short films and discover the endless possibilities that lie within every bite. 

Intro by Odyssey 2024 Co-Lead Curators, Chris Lau & Qi Wu.

PROGRAMME (9 shorts)

IN COMPETITION

Across the BoHai Sea 渤海少年 (EUROPEAN PREMIERE)

Dir. Michael Ma | 2023 | China | 23min

A father, looking for a better tomorrow for his family, moves from Shandong to Beijing with his son.

The Taste of Pineapple 鳳梨滋味凤梨滋味 (UK PREMIERE)

Dir. YANG Chenghao 2023 | The Region of Taiwan | 17min

Pineapple stinging the tongue is a growing pain of understanding the world for the first time as a child.

The Bee and The Fly 蜂蜜與蒼蠅 (UK PREMIERE)

Dir. Xia SU | 2023 | China | 7m

An absurd world in two little insects’ eyes.

In the Name of Duck 以鴨為名 (UK PREMIERE)

Dir. Arman | China | 2024 | 7m

A three-part tale about the life journey of a duck from its beginning to its end, and a dancer and a server that come into its contact.

Save My Soul 我是貓 (UK PREMIERE)

Dir. LEUNG Kam Fai | 2024 | Hong Kong SAR | 14m

A young mute develops an unexpected relationship with a blind old man and turns into a cat.

Candy 糖果狂想曲 (UK PREMIERE)

Dir. Xun YING | 2024 | China | 14 min

Candy is both the demon's collection of dead souls and the magic of delivering goodwill in the human world, so if fate is irreversible, how can this sweet magic gently transform hearts?

OUT OF COMPETITION

Neon Roses (UK PREMIERE)

Dir. Iven TU | 2023 | USA | 11m

A young man accidentally discovers the truth behind the death of his boyfriend but immediately finds himself in a dangerous situation.

A Crying Pineapple 該死的鳳梨 (UK PREMIERE)

Dir. LIANG Chun-Chieh | 2023 | The Region of Taiwan | 9m

The crying pineapple holds the loss of a child and an unrecaptured love.

The Forgotten Taste 被遺忘的滋味 (UK PREMIERE)

Dir. Guo Junyan | 2023 | The Reigion of Taiwan | 7m

Evoking the forgotten value of ordinary flavours through witnessing loss.

ABOUT ODYSSEY

Odyssey 2024 will take place between 16 September and 16 October across the UK and online, focusing on the theme of “Food and Travel”. Now in its 4th edition, Odyssey is the biggest film festival in the UK in conversation with Greater China and Chinese communities worldwide via a specific theme each year. Odyssey is presented by NGO UK-China Film Collab