When Gary Lennon (I Dream in Photos) lived next door to a Music Conservatory in Shanghai he became acutely aware of the piano-mania sweeping the country. With over 40 million piano students in China, the competition to secure places in the country’s top music schools is intense. We meet three talented students – aged 8, 12 and 19 – who practice up to ten hours a day, their dedication matched by the support of their teachers and parents, who make personal and financial sacrifices to ensure their children have the best possible chance of success. These intimate portraits offer a fresh perspective on the complex reality of the new Chinese middle class.

The opening night screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Gary Lennon, hosted by Ciara Higgins (RIAM).

Gary Lennon’s previous feature A Doctor’s Sword is now available to rent on IFI@Home.

Notes by Sunniva O’Flynn