Benjamin Mullinkosson
95 mins
As the city of Chengdu changes, the future of Funky Town, a beloved queer-friendly techno club, is unclear. For a vibrant group of DJs, drag performers, artists, lovers, ravers, and skaters, the club is a sanctuary for underground partying and allows them to thrive after the sun sets. It’s the one place that accepts them for who they are, while during the day they battle depression, question their sexuality, and struggle to make a living. But with construction cranes looming as a metro station encroaches, the partygoers are forced to face what brought them to the club in the first place – and make the most of their remaining time there. A love letter to the Chengdu underground scene, The Last Year of Darkness is a coming-of-age documentary that celebrates the ephemerality of youth.
Ben Mullinkosson’s first feature Don’t Be a Dick About It won the 2018 Audience Award at IDFA and is distributed by Oscilloscope. He directs commercials and music videos, and his previous short films have been selected at numerous festivals internationally including Tribeca (Gnarly in Pink) and Slamdance (What I Hate About Myself).