If Only I Could Hibernate

When gifted high school student Ulzii unexpectedly wins a local physics competition in Mongolia’s capital city Ulaanbaatar, he sees a chance to escape his deprived neighbourhood by competing in the national finals for the chance of a university scholarship. But when his struggling mother returns to the countryside in search of work, he has to balance the demands of looking after his younger siblings during a harsh winter with pursuing his academic dreams.

The first Mongolian film to ever play in official selection at Cannes, writer/director Zoljargal Purevdash’s beautifully photographed debut feature is a hope-filled coming-of-age drama about resilience and determination against the odds.