Art College 1994

A heartwarming journey back to the Chinese art academy of the 90s, where love, friendship, and artistic dreams intertwine. A clever, nostalgic and beautiful animation.

Liu Jian’s Art College 1994 takes us to the Chinese Southern Academy of Arts in the 1990s. Here, we follow a group of art students caught between tradition and modernity, where love and friendship seep through and dance to the flute of their lives.

The film gives voice to the characters through an impressive ensemble, including Jia Zhangke, Dong Zijian, and Zhou Dongyu. Liu Jian’s unique drawing style comes to life in a detailed world pulsating with ambivalence towards reputation, life, and creativity. Art College 1994 unclothes for us, subtly and burlesque-like, a crucial period in Chinese history. If there’s one significant message the film conveys to the viewer, it’s definitely this, «This nation is undergoing radical changes.»

This is not just a film about art, but about the people who create it, and the choices they make in a time of boundless possibilities. Art College 1994 is a moment of nostalgic beauty and profound reflection.

«Masterfully evading the trappings of the corny nostalgia flick, Art College 1994 attains a perfect balance of humour, thoughtfulness and heart.»

– Travis Jeppesen, British Film Institute –

Amika Elfendi

Director

Liu Jian is a Chinese filmmaker with roots in landscape painting. Over the past two decades, he has explored various media and aesthetic approaches in his artistic work. In 1995, he began creating animated works, and in 2007, he independently established the Le-joy Animation Studio. His first feature-length animated film, Piercing I, had its world premiere at the Holland Animation Film Festival and received numerous prestigious awards at film festivals across Asia and Europe.

This film is part of