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The posters of Last Breath and Within a Budding Grove. [Photo/Cannes Film Market]

Two Chinese films, Last Breath and Within a Budding Grove, from the 2025 Wutianming Film Festival in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, were showcased at the Cannes Film Market on May 15 and 18 as part of the Cannes China New Talents Going Global program.

Last Breath is a disaster thriller set largely in a confined space, focusing on a lawyer's struggle for survival and decision-making under pressure. Within a Budding Grove is a coming-of-age drama set in southern China that depicts adolescence, family reconciliation, and emotional growth.

The two films received multiple awards at the 2025 Wutianming Film Festival before their international screening.

In Cannes, Last Breath drew full-house screenings and attention for its tense narrative structure and immersive sound design. Industry figures, including Donna Smith, former Universal Pictures president of physical production and post-production, commented on the film's technical approach to confined-space storytelling.

Within a Budding Grove also received positive feedback for its natural performances and restrained storytelling style, with its use of non-professional actors and regional aesthetics gaining particular attention from international audiences.