Classics in Suzhou provide happy storyline for movie fans

Besides, prestigious auteur Xie Jin's directorial debut Women Basketball Player No 5 (1958), the first sports-themed film shot since the founding of the People's Republic of China, was also one of the most popular titles, she adds.

As several foreign classics were submitted in their original languages, Li says they used a special machine to insert Chinese subtitles at the bottom, making it more convenient for audiences to enjoy the content.

Sun Xianghui, curator of the China Film Archive, said at a forum that she wished the festival could become an enduring platform to lead audiences to discover the beauty of cinema.

She also revealed that China has launched a project to develop digital technology for the restoration of old films and cinematic archives since 2007.

Currently gathering around 20 top players from studios to streaming giants and universities, the project has restored some classic Chinese films, promoting China into the world's top rankings in the cinematic restoration sector, Sun adds.

Amid a shortage of new films due to the pandemic in the recent two years, rescreening old classics could be a solution to ease the "crisis" a bit for theaters or festival organizers, making the restoration job more meaningful, according to insiders at the forum.