Berlin-Bound ‘The Botanist’ Lands at Magnify for Global Sales (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Magnify has landed worldwide sales rights (excluding mainland China, China Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR & Macao SAR) to helmer Yi Jing’s directorial debut “The Botanist,” ahead of its world premiere in the Berlin Film Festival‘s Generation Kplus competition.

The coming-of-age tale, set in a remote village in China’s Xinjiang region, follows a young Kazakh boy named Arsin who develops a deep connection with plants.

His life takes a turn when he meets Meiyu, a Han Chinese girl whose free spirit he likens to a mysterious plant. Their friendship unfolds into what’s described as a dreamlike allegory that weaves between reality and botanical fantasy.

The film is produced by Shan Zuolong, known for Bi Gan’s arthouse hit “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” alongside Ai Qi. The creative team includes composer Peyman Yazdanian (“Hit the Road”), editor Yaonan Liu (“The Great Phuket”) and lenser Fannong Li. “Jing Yi’s debut film is a remarkable discovery, a tender tale enhanced by breathtaking photography and unique, plant-filled scenery,” said Magnify senior VP of Global Sales, Lorna Lee Torres. “This vibrant storybook journey explores philosophical questions across generations, offering a visual and narrative treasure that will captivate audiences.” Yi is a Beijing Film Academy grad who hails from Xinjiang.