Upon learning that his father Ma Ke, former director at the Peking Opera, is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, famed conceptual artist and puppeteer Ma Liang (a.k.a. Maleonn) embarks upon his most challenging and emotional work yet: a large-scale biographical performance on time and memory, using life-size mechanical puppets, about his father’s life. Not only does Maleonn intend to honor and explore his father within the content of the piece — titled “Papa’s Time Machine” — but asks him to collaborate on the project as well. While crafting this elaborate and breathtaking performance together, the two men are forced to confront their pasts, their regrets, and their future, when Maleonn’s father’s memories will be lost forever. This profoundly emotional documentary by directors S. Leo Chiang and Yang Sun is also an impressive technical marvel that’s gorgeous to behold.

Winner: Best Cinematography — Documentary, Tribeca

Director S. Leo Chiang is expected to be in attendance on January 3 and 11.