To the Wonder, an original production by iQIYI, China's leading online content provider, was announced by the CANNESERIES (The Cannes International Series Festival) as part of this year's Official Selection for Long Form Competition. This marks the first Chinese language long-form drama series to be selected in this competition since its launch in 2018. To the Wonder is set for its world premiere in Cannes on April 7, where it will vie for five major awards against seven other international series.
The nominated mini-series is an adaptation of the award-winning essay collection My Altay by Li Juan, a renowned Chinese writer. Set in the pristine Altay region of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the 8-episode series offers a fresh narrative and sensory experience, blending light comedy with Li's literary aesthetics to explore themes of nature reverence, self-discovery, and the simple yet resilient spirit of the northern Xinjiang herders.
Produced by iQIYI, co-produced by Ruyi Film and The City Film, the series boasts a top-notch cast and production team, including actress Ma Yili, winner of the Best Actress award at the 2018 Shanghai Magnolia Awards, one of the most prestigious television awards in China. Zhou Yiran and Yu Shi star in the lead roles, with special appearances by Jiang Qiming and Yan Peilun. Other main cast members include Huang Xiaojuan, Tuluxunbaike Alima, and Hamu Hailati.
Reflecting on the universal themes of the series, director Teng Congcong remarked, "Art and love enable humanity to transcend language and national boundaries."
Qi Kang, one of the chief producers of the series and head of iQIYI's Canran Studio, further emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, stating, "We are very fortunate to explore uncharted territories with our outstanding collaborators."
CANNESERIES, now in its 7th year and scheduled to take place from April 5 to 10, continues its commitment to showcasing international talents, celebrated screenwriters, and contributors from the multifaceted world of television series production. The selection of To the Wonder for the festival places it alongside notable past selections such as BBC America's Killing Eve, the German period drama series Bauhaus: A New Era, the French biographical mini-series Tapie, and the gripping South Korean thriller, Bargain.
The selection of To the Wonder for CANNESERIES marks another milestone in the global recognition of Chinese language dramas, following the earlier selection of another iQIYI original Chinese series, Why Try to Change Me Now, which was selected for the Berlinale Series selection of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival.
