Film duo team up again for heroic endeavor

Four years after the suspense series The Longest Day In Chang'an became a phenomenal hit, director Cao Dun and novelist-scriptwriter Ma Boyong announced they would team up again for the historic action movie, Heroes of Dunhuang.

The movie was unveiled in a new lineup, which consists of more than 30 projects from three production companies including Beijing Splendid Culture & Entertainment Co, Eastern Grace Film and Baination, during the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival on Sunday.

Set during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Heroes of Dunhuang tells the legendary story of Zhang Yichao, a military leader who rallied locals in the Hexi Corridor to pledge allegiance to the Tang regime after the area lost contact with the central government due to the An Lushan Rebellion.

Another notable project is the sequel to I Am What I Am, an animated dark horse that received the highest score among all Chinese movies released in 2021 on the popular review aggregator.

Featuring lion dancing, a centuries-old folk art mostly celebrated during Lunar New Year, I Am What I Am gained popularity for successfully depicting an underdog teenager who overcomes many obstacles to pursue his dream. The movie was praised for its distinctive animation technique and positive theme, propelling it to gross nearly 250 million yuan ($34.9 million).

The lineup also includes the comedy Green Wave, the musical Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, the sci-fi movie Space Travel Rush, and the sci-fi action film Operation Hummingbird.

Besides, the event held in downtown Shanghai also released the plans to produce a total of nine series, including The Rural Teachers, The City Maker, Change, The First Shot and Live Long and Prosper.