Qiu Jiongjiong’s ‘Fuxi: Four Tales of Feasting’ Brings Pandemic-Era Longing to Tokyo Competition

Chinese artist and filmmaker Qiu Jiongjiong transformed the pandemic’s forced pause into a cinematic meditation on human connection. His latest feature, “Fuxi: Four Tales of Feasting,” now competing at the Tokyo International Film Festival, began with a simple observation: when the world stopped, people craved the ordinary ritual of gathering around a table. Qiu tells Variety that this longing for shared meals and everyday life became the film’s emotional core. Known for his painterly visual style, Qiu uses four distinct tales to explore how food, memory, and fellowship bind communities across generations. The project marks a significant step for the director, whose work often bridges fine art and narrative cinema. With international festivals increasingly spotlighting stories of post-pandemic reconnection, “Fuxi” arrives as both a timely reflection and a showcase for Qiu’s unique aesthetic. Its Tokyo premiere could boost the film’s global distribution prospects and cement Qiu’s reputation beyond China’s art-house circuit. As audiences worldwide continue to reassess what togetherness means, Qiu’s film offers a feast for the senses—and a reminder of what we almost lost.