Ascension (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Ascension

| image = Ascension poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Jessica Kingdon

| producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| writer =

| starring =

| music = Dan Deacon

| cinematography = {{Plainlist|

Jessica Kingdon
Nathan Truesdell

}}

| editing = Jessica Kingdon

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = MTV Documentary Films

| released = {{Film date|2021|6|12|Tribeca|2021|10|8|United States}}

| runtime = 97 minutes{{cite web|url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/ascension-2021|title=Ascension|website=Tribeca Film Festival|access-date=June 19, 2021}}

| country = United States

| language = Mandarin

English

| budget =

| gross = $17,200{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Ascension-(2021-China)#tab=box-office|title=Ascension (2021)|website=The Numbers|access-date=November 5, 2021}}

}}

Ascension ({{lang-zh|登楼叹|p=Dēnglóu tàn|s=登楼叹}}) is a 2021 American documentary film directed and produced by Jessica Kingdon. It follows the pursuit of the Chinese dream through the social classes, prioritizing productivity and innovation.

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021, where it won Best Documentary Feature. It was released on October 8, 2021, by MTV Documentary Films.

Synopsis

The film follows the Chinese dream through the social classes, prioritizing productivity and innovation.

Production

Initially, Jessica Kingdon planned on making a trilogy of short films focusing on the cycle of production, consumption and waste, however, it was difficult to secure funding for a series, and instead decided to develop the trilogy into a feature film.{{cite web|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/111804-im-drawn-to-spaces-where-the-paradoxes-of-everyday-life-are-made-apparent-jessica-kingdon-on-her-tribeca-premiering-ascension/#.YM5TGS1h3BI|title="I'm Drawn to Spaces Where the Paradoxes of Everyday Life are Made Apparent": Jessica Kingdon on her Tribeca-Premiering Ascension|website=Filmmaker|first=Lauren|last=Wissot|date=June 12, 2021|access-date=June 19, 2021}} Kingdon wanted to make a film about capitalism and how it affects viewers in their own countries, and did not want to specifically single out China.{{cite web|url=https://womenandhollywood.com/tribeca-2021-women-directors-meet-jessica-kingdon-ascension/|title=Tribeca 2021 Women Directors: Meet Jessica Kingdon – Ascension|website=Women and Hollywood|first=Vicki|last=A. Lee|date=June 10, 2021|access-date=June 19, 2021}} Production on the film took place in 51 locations throughout China.{{cite web|url=http://www.scienceandfilm.org/articles/3403/director-interview-jessica-kingdons-ascension-at-tribeca|title=Director Interview: Jessica Kingdon's Ascension at Tribeca|website=Science and Film|first=Sonia|last=Shechet Epstein|date=June 16, 2021|access-date=June 19, 2021}} The title of the film originates from a poem written by Jessica Kingdon's great-grandfather.{{Cite web|url= https://nationalboardofreview.org/2021/10/qa-with-jessica-kingdon/|title= Ascension – Q&A with Jessica Kingdon|date=October 15, 2021|work=National Board of Review}}

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021, where it won Best Documentary Feature and the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director.{{cite web|url=https://tribecafilm.com/news/announcing-the-feature-film-lineup-for-tribeca-2021|title=Announcing The Feature Film Lineup For Tribeca 2021|website=Tribeca Film Festival|date=April 20, 2021|accessdate=June 19, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/tribeca-festival-2021-winners-films-1234777532/|title=Tribeca Festival Winners: Lauren Hadaway's The Novice, Brighton 4th, Ascension Take Top Honors|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=June 17, 2021|access-date=June 19, 2021}} On September 26, 2021, the film had its European premiere at the Zurich Film Festival, where it was entered in the competition for best documentary film.{{cite web |url=https://zff.com/de/archiv/25651/ |title=Ascension |website=Zurich Film Festival |access-date=October 10, 2021}}

In August 2021, it was announced MTV Documentary Films had acquired distribution rights to the film, and set it for an October 8, 2021, release.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/mtv-documentary-films-ascension-awards-1235040602/|title=MTV Documentary Films Buys Ascension, Plans Awards Push (Exclusive)|website=Variety|first=Brent|last=Lang|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2021}}

Reception

=Critical reception=

Ascension received positive reviews from film critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a 98% approval rating based on reviews from 44 critics, with an average rating of 7.90/10.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ascension_2021|title=Ascension (2021)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 10, 2021}} On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 82 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/ascension|title=Ascension|website=Metacritic|access-date=October 10, 2021}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \| Award ! scope="col" \| Date of ceremony ! scope="col" \| Category ! scope="col" \| Recipient(s) ! scope="col" \| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \|{{Refh}}
scope="row"\|Academy Awards \| March 27, 2022 \| Best Documentary Feature \| Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{cite news \|last1=Nordyke \|first1=Kimberly \|last2=Strause \|first2=Jackie \|last3=Lewis \|first3=Hilary \|title=Oscars: Full List of Nominations \|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscar-nominations-2022-nominees-list-1235088770/ \|access-date=February 8, 2022 \|work=The Hollywood Reporter \|date=February 8, 2022}}
scope="row"\|Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards \| January 25, 2022 \| Best Documentary \| Ascension \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{cite news \|last1=Urban \|first1=Sasha \|title=The Power of the Dog Sweeps Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards \|url=https://variety.com/2022/awards/news/power-of-the-dog-alliance-women-film-journalists-awards-1235162239/ \|access-date=February 16, 2022 \|work=Variety \|date=January 25, 2022 \|archive-date=January 25, 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125195232/https://variety.com/2022/awards/news/power-of-the-dog-alliance-women-film-journalists-awards-1235162239/ \|url-status=live }}
scope="row" rowspan="5"\|Cinema Eye Honors \| rowspan="5"\|March 1, 2022 \| Outstanding Non-Fiction Feature Feature \| Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell \| {{nom}} \| align="center" rowspan="5"\|{{cite news \|last1=Murphy \|first1=J. Kim \|title=Flee Wins Top Prize of Outstanding Nonfiction Feature at Cinema Eye Honors for Documentaries \|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/cinema-eye-honors-2022-winners-1235193792/ \|access-date=March 2, 2022 \|work=Variety \|date=March 1, 2022}}{{cite web\|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/2022-cinema-eye-honors-complete-nominations-list-flee-summer-of-soul-1234871458/\|title=Flee & Summer Of Soul Lead Cinema Eye Honors Nominations\|website=Deadline\|first=Matt\|last=Grobar\|date=November 10, 2021\|accessdate=November 11, 2021}}
Outstanding Direction \| rowspan="2"\|Jessica Kingdon \| {{nom}}
Outstanding Debut \| {{won}}
Outstanding Cinematography \| Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell \| {{won}}
Outstanding Original Score \| Dan Deacon \| {{won}}
scope="row" rowspan="6"\|Critics' Choice Documentary Awards \| rowspan="6"\|November 14, 2021 \| Best Documentary Feature \| Ascension \| {{Nominated}} \| rowspan="6" align="center"\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/10/critics-choice-awards-documentary-nominations-2021-1234672379/\|title=Ascension and Summer of Soul Lead Critics Choice Documentary Nominations\|work=IndieWire\|date=October 8, 2021\|accessdate=October 18, 2021\|first=Ryan\|last=Lattanzio}}
Best Director \| rowspan="2"\|Jessica Kingdon \| {{Nominated}}
Best First Documentary Feature \| {{Nominated}}
Best Score \| Dan Deacon \| {{Nominated}}
Best Cinematography \| Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell \| {{Nominated}}
Best Editing \| Jessica Kingdon \| {{Nominated}}
scope="row"\|Denver Film Festival \| November 15, 2021 \| Special Mention Best Documentary \| Ascension \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{cite web \|title=Denver Film Festival Announces Award Recipients for 44th Annual Program \|url=https://www.denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival/dff44/media/press-release/awards/ \|website=Denver Film Festival \|access-date=February 16, 2022 \|date=November 15, 2021}}
scope="row"\|Directors Guild of America Awards \| March 12, 2022 \| Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentaries \| Jessica Kingdon \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\|{{cite news \|last1=Lewis \|first1=Hilary \|title=DGA Awards: Succession Dominates Drama Series Nominees; Summer of Soul and The Rescue Up for Documentary Prize \|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dga-awards-2022-tv-commercial-documentary-nominations-nominees-list-1235081364/ \|access-date=January 29, 2022 \|work=The Hollywood Reporter \|date=January 26, 2022}}
scope="row"\|Gotham Awards \| November 29, 2021 \| Best Documentary \| Ascension \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\|{{cite news \|last1=Lattanzio \|first1=Ryan \|title=Gotham Awards: The Lost Daughter Wins Top Prize — See the Full List of Winners \|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/11/gotham-awards-2021-winners-list-1234682094/ \|access-date=November 30, 2021 \|work=IndieWire \|date=November 30, 2021}}
scope="row"\|Hamptons International Film Festival \| October 11, 2021 \| Best Documentary Feature \| Ascension \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{cite web \|last1=Hipes \|first1=Patrick \|title=Hamptons Film Festival Winners Include Murina, Ascension \|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/hamptons-film-festival-winners-2021-murina-ascension-1234853858/ \|website=Deadline \|access-date=February 16, 2022 \|date=October 11, 2021}}
scope="row"\| IDA Documentary Awards \| March 4, 2022 \| Best Cinematography \| Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{cite web \|title=Nominees Revealed for the 37th Annual IDA Documentary Awards \|url=https://www.documentary.org/press-release/nominees-revealed-37th-annual-ida-documentary-awards \|publisher=International Documentary Association \|access-date=January 29, 2022 \|date=November 15, 2021}}{{cite web \|last1=Hipes \|first1=Patrick \|title=IDA Awards Shifts 2022 Ceremony To March As Virtual-Only Event \|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/ida-awards-2022-ceremony-changes-date-virtual-only-1234905231/ \|website=Deadline \|access-date=January 29, 2022 \|date=January 6, 2022}}
scope="row"\|Independent Spirit Awards \| March 6, 2022 \| Best Documentary Feature \| Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\|{{cite web \|title=These are the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees. \|url=https://www.filmindependent.org/blog/these-are-the-2022-film-independent-spirit-award-nominees/ \|website=Film Independent \|access-date=February 16, 2022 \|date=December 14, 2021}}
scope="row"\|National Board of Review Awards \| December 2, 2021 \| Top 5 Documentaries \| Ascension \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{cite web \|last1=Sharf \|first1=Zach \|title=National Board of Review Winners 2021: Licorice Pizza Takes Best Picture and Best Director \|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/national-board-of-review-winners-2021-licorice-pizza-1234682925/ \|website=IndieWire \|access-date=February 16, 2022 \|date=December 2, 2021 \|archive-date=December 2, 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202193613/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/national-board-of-review-winners-2021-licorice-pizza-1234682925/ \|url-status=live }}
scope="row"\|Producers Guild of America Awards \| March 19, 2022 \| Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures \| Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\|{{cite web \|last1=Pedersen \|first1=Erik \|title=PGA Awards Nominations: Licorice Pizza, Don't Look Up, Dune, King Richard & CODA Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize \|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/pga-awards-nominations-2022-producers-guild-1234920746/ \|website=Deadline \|access-date=January 29, 2022 \|date=January 27, 2022}}
scope="row"\|Satellite Awards \| April 2, 2022 \| Best Motion Picture, Documentary \| Ascension \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{cite web \|last1=Fuster \|first1=Jeremy \|title=Power of the Dog, Belfast Lead Nominations for IPA Satellite Awards \|url=https://www.thewrap.com/ipa-satellite-award-nominees-2021-power-of-the-dog \|website=TheWrap \|access-date=February 10, 2022 \|date=December 1, 2021 \|archive-date=December 22, 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222155158/https://www.thewrap.com/ipa-satellite-award-nominees-2021-power-of-the-dog/ \|url-status=live }}
scope="row" rowspan="2"\|Tribeca Film Festival \| rowspan="2"\|June 24, 2021 \| Best Documentary Feature \| Ascension \| {{won}} \| rowspan="2" align="center"\|
Albert Maysles Award \| Jessica Kingdon \| {{won}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Date of ceremony

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Recipient(s)

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Refh}}

scope="row"|Academy Awards

| March 27, 2022

| Best Documentary Feature

| Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite news |last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |last2=Strause |first2=Jackie |last3=Lewis |first3=Hilary |title=Oscars: Full List of Nominations |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscar-nominations-2022-nominees-list-1235088770/ |access-date=February 8, 2022 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 8, 2022}}

scope="row"|Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards

| January 25, 2022

| Best Documentary

| Ascension

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite news |last1=Urban |first1=Sasha |title=The Power of the Dog Sweeps Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards |url=https://variety.com/2022/awards/news/power-of-the-dog-alliance-women-film-journalists-awards-1235162239/ |access-date=February 16, 2022 |work=Variety |date=January 25, 2022 |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125195232/https://variety.com/2022/awards/news/power-of-the-dog-alliance-women-film-journalists-awards-1235162239/ |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan="5"|Cinema Eye Honors

| rowspan="5"|March 1, 2022

| Outstanding Non-Fiction Feature Feature

| Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell

| {{nom}}

| align="center" rowspan="5"|{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=J. Kim |title=Flee Wins Top Prize of Outstanding Nonfiction Feature at Cinema Eye Honors for Documentaries |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/cinema-eye-honors-2022-winners-1235193792/ |access-date=March 2, 2022 |work=Variety |date=March 1, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/2022-cinema-eye-honors-complete-nominations-list-flee-summer-of-soul-1234871458/|title=Flee & Summer Of Soul Lead Cinema Eye Honors Nominations|website=Deadline|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=November 10, 2021|accessdate=November 11, 2021}}

Outstanding Direction

| rowspan="2"|Jessica Kingdon

| {{nom}}

Outstanding Debut

| {{won}}

Outstanding Cinematography

| Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell

| {{won}}

Outstanding Original Score

| Dan Deacon

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan="6"|Critics' Choice Documentary Awards

| rowspan="6"|November 14, 2021

| Best Documentary Feature

| Ascension

| {{Nominated}}

| rowspan="6" align="center"|{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/10/critics-choice-awards-documentary-nominations-2021-1234672379/|title=Ascension and Summer of Soul Lead Critics Choice Documentary Nominations|work=IndieWire|date=October 8, 2021|accessdate=October 18, 2021|first=Ryan|last=Lattanzio}}

Best Director

| rowspan="2"|Jessica Kingdon

| {{Nominated}}

Best First Documentary Feature

| {{Nominated}}

Best Score

| Dan Deacon

| {{Nominated}}

Best Cinematography

| Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell

| {{Nominated}}

Best Editing

| Jessica Kingdon

| {{Nominated}}

scope="row"|Denver Film Festival

| November 15, 2021

| Special Mention Best Documentary

| Ascension

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web |title=Denver Film Festival Announces Award Recipients for 44th Annual Program |url=https://www.denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival/dff44/media/press-release/awards/ |website=Denver Film Festival |access-date=February 16, 2022 |date=November 15, 2021}}

scope="row"|Directors Guild of America Awards

| March 12, 2022

| Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentaries

| Jessica Kingdon

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Hilary |title=DGA Awards: Succession Dominates Drama Series Nominees; Summer of Soul and The Rescue Up for Documentary Prize |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dga-awards-2022-tv-commercial-documentary-nominations-nominees-list-1235081364/ |access-date=January 29, 2022 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 26, 2022}}

scope="row"|Gotham Awards

| November 29, 2021

| Best Documentary

| Ascension

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{cite news |last1=Lattanzio |first1=Ryan |title=Gotham Awards: The Lost Daughter Wins Top Prize — See the Full List of Winners |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/11/gotham-awards-2021-winners-list-1234682094/ |access-date=November 30, 2021 |work=IndieWire |date=November 30, 2021}}

scope="row"|Hamptons International Film Festival

| October 11, 2021

| Best Documentary Feature

| Ascension

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |title=Hamptons Film Festival Winners Include Murina, Ascension |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/hamptons-film-festival-winners-2021-murina-ascension-1234853858/ |website=Deadline |access-date=February 16, 2022 |date=October 11, 2021}}

scope="row"| IDA Documentary Awards

| March 4, 2022

| Best Cinematography

| Jessica Kingdon and Nathan Truesdell

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web |title=Nominees Revealed for the 37th Annual IDA Documentary Awards |url=https://www.documentary.org/press-release/nominees-revealed-37th-annual-ida-documentary-awards |publisher=International Documentary Association |access-date=January 29, 2022 |date=November 15, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |title=IDA Awards Shifts 2022 Ceremony To March As Virtual-Only Event |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/ida-awards-2022-ceremony-changes-date-virtual-only-1234905231/ |website=Deadline |access-date=January 29, 2022 |date=January 6, 2022}}

scope="row"|Independent Spirit Awards

| March 6, 2022

| Best Documentary Feature

| Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{cite web |title=These are the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees. |url=https://www.filmindependent.org/blog/these-are-the-2022-film-independent-spirit-award-nominees/ |website=Film Independent |access-date=February 16, 2022 |date=December 14, 2021}}

scope="row"|National Board of Review Awards

| December 2, 2021

| Top 5 Documentaries

| Ascension

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web |last1=Sharf |first1=Zach |title=National Board of Review Winners 2021: Licorice Pizza Takes Best Picture and Best Director |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/national-board-of-review-winners-2021-licorice-pizza-1234682925/ |website=IndieWire |access-date=February 16, 2022 |date=December 2, 2021 |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202193613/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/national-board-of-review-winners-2021-licorice-pizza-1234682925/ |url-status=live }}

scope="row"|Producers Guild of America Awards

| March 19, 2022

| Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures

| Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{cite web |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |title=PGA Awards Nominations: Licorice Pizza, Don't Look Up, Dune, King Richard & CODA Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/pga-awards-nominations-2022-producers-guild-1234920746/ |website=Deadline |access-date=January 29, 2022 |date=January 27, 2022}}

scope="row"|Satellite Awards

| April 2, 2022

| Best Motion Picture, Documentary

| Ascension

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web |last1=Fuster |first1=Jeremy |title=Power of the Dog, Belfast Lead Nominations for IPA Satellite Awards |url=https://www.thewrap.com/ipa-satellite-award-nominees-2021-power-of-the-dog |website=TheWrap |access-date=February 10, 2022 |date=December 1, 2021 |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222155158/https://www.thewrap.com/ipa-satellite-award-nominees-2021-power-of-the-dog/ |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan="2"|Tribeca Film Festival

| rowspan="2"|June 24, 2021

| Best Documentary Feature

| Ascension

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2" align="center"|

Albert Maysles Award

| Jessica Kingdon

| {{won}}