For Xu, the visit to the school is like a window, through which he can view the huge transformations brought about by China's decadeslong effort to eliminate poverty and the country's vision of rural revitalization.

Xiao Xiangrong, dean of the School of Art and Communication at Beijing Normal University, says that the project was inspired by the Beijing College Student Film Festival, an annual event also hosted by the university.

"I have often thought recently about how acclaimed movies could reach and influence more people. I also think that it's important for the students majoring in education to delve deeply into primary and secondary schools, thus making them more emotionally connected and able to understand the value of their job as a teacher in the future," explains Xiao.