A renowned director known for critically acclaimed movies such as City of Life and Death, Lu has also paid close attention to the domestic film industry, saying that he hopes the industry's recovery will also benefit his upcoming documentary, even though documentaries are still considered a niche market.

Recalling his attendance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing film festival, where he was surrounded by throngs of people, Lu says he has been prompted to reflect more deeply on the role of cinema and its future.

"The spring of Chinese cinema has returned, and everything is moving positively in the right direction," he says.

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