The short film Sunken Plum (original title Chen Li), directed by Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi, will be part of the special selection “The Best of Laboral Cinemateca Shorts: 10 Years of Asturian Short Films”, a commemorative showcase celebrating a decade of Laboral Cinemateca’s short film distribution catalogue.
The selection brings together six of the most acclaimed short films linked to Asturias, all of them widely recognized both nationally and internationally. Although Sunken Plum is set in China, the film is connected to Asturias through its director and its independent production model, developed between Spain and China, and was later incorporated into the Laboral Cinemateca distribution catalogue after receiving the Distribution Award at the 55th Gijón International Film Festival (FICX).
As part of this initiative, Sunken Plum will be screened across Asturias in a traveling circuit, with more than twenty confirmed screenings between April and June in different municipalities.
This anniversary selection highlights the role of Laboral Cinemateca in supporting and promoting Asturian filmmaking over the past decade, showcasing works that have achieved a strong presence on the international festival circuit.
Sunken Plum will be screened in more than 20 locations across Asturias as part of this touring program
As part of this special selection, Sunken Plum will travel across Asturias through “La Cinemateca Ambulante”, reaching a wide network of municipalities and reintroducing the film to local audiences.
Sunken Plum will be screened in more than 20 locations across Asturias as part of this touring program.
The screenings are scheduled between April and June 2026 in the following locations:
- Ribadesella — April 10
- Cabrales — April 11
- Noreña — April 15
- Grao — April 17
- Onís — April 21
- Parres — April 22
- Vegadeo — April 29
- Valdés — April 30
- Soto del Barco — May 2
- Navia — May 6
- Nava — May 7
- Gijón — May 10
- Piloña — May 12
- Cangas del Narcea — May 15
- Mieres — May 19
- Siero (La Pola) — May 20
- Siero (Lugones) — May 21
- Tineo — May 21
- Langreo — May 25
- Villaviciosa — May 28
- Llanes — June 5
- Colunga — June 12
This extensive tour forms part of Laboral Cinemateca’s 10th anniversary celebrations, bringing cinema to more than 20 municipalities across the region and reinforcing its commitment to cultural access and the dissemination of Asturian filmmaking.
Through this initiative, Sunken Plum not only returns to its region of origin, but also reaches new audiences, reaffirming its continued relevance nearly a decade after its release.
Sunken Plum: a landmark short film in contemporary queer and transgender cinema
Released in 2017, Sunken Plum (original title Chen Li) is widely considered one of the most relevant short films addressing transgender identity in contemporary Asian cinema, particularly for its portrayal of rural China — a context rarely explored in queer narratives.
The film has been selected in over 150 international festivals across more than 55 countries, receiving over 30 awards and mentions worldwide.
Set between the city of Chengdu and a remote rural village in Sichuan, the film follows a transgender woman who, after years away, is forced to return to her hometown following the death of her mother. As the only “male” heir in the family, she must confront social expectations rooted in tradition while being unable to appear as herself in front of relatives and neighbors.
The cast combines professional performers with mostly non-professional actors, contributing to the film’s naturalistic tone while blending social realism with a subtle poetic dimension, creating an intimate and visually evocative portrayal of character and environment.
The film forms the third and final part of the Invisible Chengdu, alongside Ni Jing: Thou Shalt Not Steal (2013) and Floating Melon (2015), a body of work shot in Sichuan and performed in Southwestern Mandarin that portrays marginalized and often unseen realities of contemporary Chinese society.
Developed independently between Spain and China, the project reflects the filmmakers’ ongoing exploration of cross-cultural narratives, blending European auteur sensibilities with deeply rooted local contexts.
Sunken Plum originates from real social tensions, inspired in part by viral videos—later censored—that exposed violence against transgender women in China, grounding the film in a broader reflection on visibility, identity and social control.
Discover more about the film: Sunken Plum
Sunken Plum: international impact and major awards
Since its release, Sunken Plum has achieved over 150 international festival selections across more than 55 countries, receiving over 30 awards and mentions, and establishing itself as a key work within global queer cinema.
It has become one of the most internationally recognized short films addressing transgender narratives in Asian cinema.
The film had its world premiere at the 62nd SEMINCI – Valladolid International Film Festival (Spain), one of the most prestigious film festivals in the country. It later continued its international journey through key festivals, including the 22nd LesGaiCineMad – Madrid International LGBT Film Festival, and expanded globally with its U.S. premiere at the 36th Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival and its UK premiere at the 26th Raindance Film Festival, both Oscar-qualifying festivals.
The film was also presented at major international festivals such as the 39th European Short Film Festival of Villeurbanne (France), the 34th Interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival, the 13th Shorts México – International Short Film Festival, the 29th Istanbul International Short Film Festival, and the 16th Bogoshorts – Bogotá Short Film Festival, among many others, consolidating its presence across the five continents.
In Spain, Sunken Plum was selected at several Goya-qualifying festivals, including the 21st Málaga Film Festival, the 30th Aguilar de Campoo Short Film Festival, the 31st Medina del Campo Film Week, the 16th FESCIGU – Guadalajara International Solidarity Film Festival, and the 30th l’Alfàs del Pi Film Festival, reinforcing its recognition within the national industry.
Awards and Recognition
Sunken Plum has received more than 30 awards and mentions worldwide, including:
- Silver Caravel for Best Short Film – 47th Cartagena International Film Festival (Spain)
- Best Short Film, Best Director and Audience Award – 11th Punto di Vista Film Festival (Italy)
- Best Screenplay – 10th ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival (China)
- Audience Award & Unilabur Award – 22nd Cortada Short Film Festival (Spain)
- Audience Award – 10th Lobofest International Film Festival (Brazil)
- Best Short Film – Centro Niemeyer LGBTI Film Festival (Spain)
- Best Short Film and Best Screenplay – 6th Brighton Trans Pride Film Festival (UK)
- Best Short Film (Journalists’ Award) – 17th Avilés Acción Film Festival (Spain)
The film has received over 12 awards for Best Short Film, multiple Audience Awards, and several recognitions for performance, highlighting both its critical acclaim and its strong connection with audiences worldwide.
You can find the complete and updated list of festival selections here: Sunken Plum (Ciruela de agua dulce) — Awards & Festivals
A defining work in the filmmakers’ trajectory
Sunken Plum represents a turning point in the work of Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi, marking the consolidation of their cinematic language and their ongoing exploration of cross-cultural narratives between Europe and Asia.
Produced independently between Spain and China, the film reflects their commitment to auteur cinema and socially engaged storytelling, combining intimate personal narratives with broader social contexts.
Over time, the film has become one of their most widely screened works, contributing significantly to their international recognition and positioning within the global festival circuit.
Nearly a decade after its release, Sunken Plum continues to resonate with audiences and programmers worldwide. Its return to Asturias through this anniversary selection not only celebrates its past achievements, but also reaffirms its relevance in contemporary discussions around gender identity, representation, and cultural belonging.
As part of this retrospective, the film is not simply revisited — it is recontextualized as a work that helped shape the visibility of transgender narratives in international short filmmaking.
The filmmakers’ trajectory continues with their recent short film IUS of Time, well received at international festivals, further expanding their exploration of identity and memory. They are currently developing new fiction projects in both short and feature formats, planned to be produced between Spain and China.
Watch the official trailer:
Behind the scenes of Sunken Plum
