Documentary Screening
Registration 6:45pm 
Screening 7:00pm 
Close 8:15pm

In Mandarin with English subtitles | 72 minutes

“A vibrant human story” — The Hollywood Reporter

Best Documentary — British Independent Film Awards 2017
Best Documentary nominee — Berlinale 2017
Crystal Bear nominee — Berlinale 2017
Special Mention — Margaret Mead Film Festival

The documentary film, Almost Heaven directed by Carol Salter follows Ying Ling, a 17 year-old girl far from home for the first time, as she trains to become a mortician in one of China’s largest funeral homes. Despite her fear of ghosts and dead bodies, she learns the spa rituals; cleaning and massaging the corpses while the grieving families look on. Ying Ling finds solace from her macabre role through her playful banter with another of the young morticians. Together, they spend their time off talking about their hopes, fears and plans for the future. With intimate access and moments of humor, Almost Heaven follows Ying Ling as she learns about life while surrounded by death. An intimate, tender and life-affirming portrait of a young woman on the cusp of adulthood.