Ascension (film)

Ascension (Chinese: 登楼叹) is a 2021 American documentary film directed and produced by Jessica Kingdon. It follows the pursuit of the Chinese dream through the social classes, prioritizing productivity and innovation.

Ascension
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJessica Kingdon
Produced by
Cinematography
  • Jessica Kingdon
  • Nathan Truesdell
Edited byJessica Kingdon
Music byDan Deacon
Production
companies
Distributed byMTV Documentary Films
Release dates
  • June 12, 2021 (2021-06-12) (Tribeca)
  • October 8, 2021 (2021-10-08) (United States)
Running time
97 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguagesMandarin
English
Box office$17,200[2]

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021, where it won Best Documentary Feature. It was released on October 8, 2021, by MTV Documentary Films.

Synopsis

The film follows the Chinese dream through the social classes, prioritizing productivity and innovation.

Production

Initially, Jessica Kingdon planned on making a trilogy of short films focusing on the cycle of production, consumption and waste, however, it was difficult to secure funding for a series, and instead decided to develop the trilogy into a feature film.[3] Kingdon wanted to make a film about capitalism and how it affects viewers in their own countries, and did not want to specifically single out China.[4] Production on the film took place in 51 locations throughout China.[5] The title of the film originates from a poem written by Jessica Kingdon's great-grandfather.[6]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021, where it won Best Documentary Feature and the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director.[7][8] On September 26, 2021, the film had its European premiere at the Zurich Film Festival, where it was entered in the competition for best documentary film.[9]

In August 2021, it was announced MTV Documentary Films had acquired distribution rights to the film, and set it for an October 8, 2021, release.[10]

Reception

Critical reception

Ascension received positive reviews from film critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a 98% approval rating based on reviews from 44 critics, with an average rating of 7.90/10.[11] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 82 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[12]

Accolades
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards March 27, 2022 Best Documentary Feature Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell Nominated [13]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards January 25, 2022 Best Documentary Ascension Nominated [14]
Cinema Eye Honors March 1, 2022 Outstanding Non-Fiction Feature Feature Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell Nominated [15][16]
Outstanding Direction Jessica Kingdon Nominated
Outstanding Debut Won
Outstanding Cinematography Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell Won
Outstanding Original Score Dan Deacon Won
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards November 14, 2021 Best Documentary Feature Ascension Nominated [17]
Best Director Jessica Kingdon Nominated
Best First Documentary Feature Nominated
Best Score Dan Deacon Nominated
Best Cinematography Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell Nominated
Best Editing Jessica Kingdon Nominated
Denver Film Festival November 15, 2021 Special Mention Best Documentary Ascension Won [18]
Directors Guild of America Awards March 12, 2022 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentaries Jessica Kingdon Nominated [19]
Gotham Awards November 29, 2021 Best Documentary Ascension Nominated [20]
Hamptons International Film Festival October 11, 2021 Best Documentary Feature Ascension Won [21]
IDA Documentary Awards March 4, 2022 Best Cinematography Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell Nominated [22][23]
Independent Spirit Awards March 6, 2022 Best Documentary Feature Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell Nominated [24]
National Board of Review Awards December 2, 2021 Top 5 Documentaries Ascension Won [25]
Producers Guild of America Awards March 19, 2022 Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell Nominated [26]
Satellite Awards April 2, 2022 Best Motion Picture, Documentary Ascension Nominated [27]
Tribeca Film Festival June 24, 2021 Best Documentary Feature Ascension Won [8]
Albert Maysles Award Jessica Kingdon Won

References
  1. "Ascension". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  2. "Ascension (2021)". The Numbers. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  3. Wissot, Lauren (June 12, 2021). ""I'm Drawn to Spaces Where the Paradoxes of Everyday Life are Made Apparent": Jessica Kingdon on her Tribeca-Premiering Ascension". Filmmaker. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  4. A. Lee, Vicki (June 10, 2021). "Tribeca 2021 Women Directors: Meet Jessica Kingdon – Ascension". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  5. Shechet Epstein, Sonia (June 16, 2021). "Director Interview: Jessica Kingdon's Ascension at Tribeca". Science and Film. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  6. "Ascension – Q&A with Jessica Kingdon". National Board of Review. October 15, 2021.
  7. "Announcing The Feature Film Lineup For Tribeca 2021". Tribeca Film Festival. April 20, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  8. Hipes, Patrick (June 17, 2021). "Tribeca Festival Winners: Lauren Hadaway's The Novice, Brighton 4th, Ascension Take Top Honors". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  9. "Ascension". Zurich Film Festival. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  10. Lang, Brent (August 12, 2021). "MTV Documentary Films Buys Ascension, Plans Awards Push (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  11. "Ascension (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  12. "Ascension". Metacritic. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  13. Nordyke, Kimberly; Strause, Jackie; Lewis, Hilary (February 8, 2022). "Oscars: Full List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  14. Urban, Sasha (January 25, 2022). "The Power of the Dog Sweeps Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  15. Murphy, J. Kim (March 1, 2022). "Flee Wins Top Prize of Outstanding Nonfiction Feature at Cinema Eye Honors for Documentaries". Variety. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  16. Grobar, Matt (November 10, 2021). "Flee & Summer Of Soul Lead Cinema Eye Honors Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  17. Lattanzio, Ryan (October 8, 2021). "Ascension and Summer of Soul Lead Critics Choice Documentary Nominations". IndieWire. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  18. "Denver Film Festival Announces Award Recipients for 44th Annual Program". Denver Film Festival. November 15, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  19. Lewis, Hilary (January 26, 2022). "DGA Awards: Succession Dominates Drama Series Nominees; Summer of Soul and The Rescue Up for Documentary Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  20. Lattanzio, Ryan (November 30, 2021). "Gotham Awards: The Lost Daughter Wins Top Prize — See the Full List of Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  21. Hipes, Patrick (October 11, 2021). "Hamptons Film Festival Winners Include Murina, Ascension". Deadline. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  22. "Nominees Revealed for the 37th Annual IDA Documentary Awards". International Documentary Association. November 15, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  23. Hipes, Patrick (January 6, 2022). "IDA Awards Shifts 2022 Ceremony To March As Virtual-Only Event". Deadline. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  24. "These are the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees". Film Independent. December 14, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  25. Sharf, Zach (December 2, 2021). "National Board of Review Winners 2021: Licorice Pizza Takes Best Picture and Best Director". IndieWire. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  26. Pedersen, Erik (January 27, 2022). "PGA Awards Nominations: Licorice Pizza, Don't Look Up, Dune, King Richard & CODA Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize". Deadline. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  27. Fuster, Jeremy (December 1, 2021). "Power of the Dog, Belfast Lead Nominations for IPA Satellite Awards". TheWrap. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
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