Ascension (film)

Ascension (Chinese: 登楼叹; pinyin: Dēnglóu tàn) 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 by	Jessica Kingdon
Produced by	Jessica Kingdon Kira Simon-Kennedy Nathan Truesdell
Cinematography	Jessica Kingdon Nathan Truesdell
Edited by	Jessica Kingdon
Music by	Dan Deacon
Production companies	XTR Firelight Media Field of Vision Cinereach Chicken & Egg Pictures The Sundance Institute San Francisco Film Society
Distributed by	MTV Documentary Films
Release dates	June 12, 2021 (2021-06-12) (Tribeca) October 8, 2021 (2021-10-08) (United States)
Running time	97 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Languages	Mandarin 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.

External links

• Official website
• Ascension at IMDb
• Ascension at Rotten Tomatoes
• Ascension at Metacritic