ZOOM IN, ZOOM OUT
by Jie Dong
China, 2026, 116’
Searching for his missing roommate, Shi Zi'an drifts into a digital world that first feels like a hollow escape, until it becomes an unexpected path to purpose and real connection.
When his roommate Gao disappears, Shi sets out across the city in search of him. Following an unexpected lead, he meets YY, Gao’s girlfriend, and together they begin piecing together the fragments left behind. As their search unfolds across both physical and digital worlds, they form an unexpected bond. While pursuing the truth, they confront the blurred boundaries between memory and reality, finding a deeper understanding of genuine human connections in an increasingly virtual world.
Awards
Most Innovative Film; Bisato d'Oro Award - Venice IFF 2026
Festivals
Settimana Internazionale della Critica - Venice International Film Critics' Week 2026
Cast & Crew
Sunny Sun, Tian’ai Zhao
Executive producer: Hongwei Wang
Production company: Do Something Films
Producer: Shanshan CAO
Jie Dong
Born in Wuhan in October 1996, DONG grew up in Shanghai. He is a graduate of Beijing Film Academy, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Directing. BREAK, a 50-minute thesis film he wrote and directed, was selected for the Pingyao International Film Festival, the Beijing International Short Film Festival, and other film festivals. He has also worked as an editor for SUMMER BLUR and ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? (Cannes 2021). DONG is the author of the short story collection THE GAP OF MIGRATION, which was published during his college days. ZOOM IN ZOOM OUT is his first feature film.
