Miles to Go Before She Sleeps
Fall Grants 2020 - Post-Production Stage
Mijie Li / Feature Documentary / China, United States of America, Qatar / 141 min / Original Language: Mandarin, Yulin Dialect
Synopsis
Yang Ai Yun is a retired schoolteacher and animal sanctuary founder, who for over twenty years has been rescuing dogs to keep them off peoples’ plates. Portrayed in the media as a “Schindler for dogs”, Yang has millions of online followers. Some call her a hero; others call her a sham. Still, her mission remains the same—save as many dogs as possible. Online donations pour in, as Yang sets out to establish a new sanctuary during the notorious Yulin Dog Meat Festival. Soon after, she is caught in a maelstrom of nationalistic fervour, police incompetence, and a hostile takeover. Evicted in the middle of the night with nowhere to go, Yang must find a way to guide her dogs home.
Credits
- Director
- Mijie Li
- Screenwriter
- J. Faye Yuan, Mario Ducoudray
- Producer
- J. Faye Yuan, Mario Ducoudray, Mijie Li
- Production Company
- New Circle Films
About the Director
Originally from Hunan, China, Mijie Li served as co-producer on the Sundance and Oscar-winning documentary, 'American Factory'. Her debut feature 'Confucian Dream' premiered at Hot Docs in 2019 and went on to win the Special Jury Prize at Karlovy Vary and the Independent Spirit Award at Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival, before taking home the top prize for global impact at Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival. 'Miles to Go Before She Sleeps' is her second feature.