Zhang Yimou promote his latest martial arts epic Shadow in Beijing on Sept 27. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Renowned director Zhang Yimou's latest film Shadow, which won acclaim at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, was screened at a special event in Beijing on Sept 27.

The story set in Three Kingdoms period (220-280) is about a king who uses a "shadow", or a body double.

"I want to tell a complicated story which looks into thte complexity of humanity," said Zhang at the screening.

He also said that as he liked Chinese traditional black-and-white ink paintings, he adopted a similar technique in cinematography to create a unique aesthetic in his film.

The film will open across Chinese mainland on Sept 30.