Wen Zhang. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese actor Wen Zhang's directorial debut, a romantic comedy called When Larry Met Mary, starring actors Bao Bei'er, Zhu Yawen and actress Song Jia, is set for a national release on July 15.

July and August are typically the most lucrative season for domestic titles as major foreign films are rarely screened during this period.

The film is about a shy man who has secretly loved his former classmate for many years.

Wen, who is also a co-writer of the script, says he was inspired to do the film while working on the military-themed TV series Shao Shuai (Young Marshal).

"I heard the story from a friend. It impressed me that a man could hold love in heart for so many years," says Wen.

Alongside four others, Wen has recently been nominated for the best director award in the Asia New Talent section of 2016 Shanghai International Film Festival.