Low-budget Chinese science fiction film on the horizon

Zhang Xiaobei (left) talks about his directorial debut, Path Finder. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Award-winning director Lu Chuan, who rose to prominence with Keh Xil: Mountain Patrol, has teamed up with Tencent Pictures on 20,000 Miles Plan.

The film, which was also one of the projects listed on Sept 17, is part sci-fi, and is inspired by Lu's years working in a supernatural-phenomenon-research organization, a source says.

Meanwhile, although it is too early to predict how this new approach with regard to sci-fi will work, this time Tencent Pictures is putting emphasis on originality.

The biggest investment when it comes to making movies is patience, says Cheng Wu, vice-president of Tencent and CEO of Tencent Pictures.

"The Chinese movie industry is already at a new level. By being brave, exploring experimental forms and providing an opportunity to those outside the charmed circle, we will create more possibilities," he says.

Separately, other upcoming productions that are garnering interest are the coming-of-age thriller Blood of Youth, which is akin to documentary horror film Zhong Xie (Haunted); the animated remake of The Snow Child; Tuzki (based on a popular rabbit character) and the TV series Fighter of Destiny.

Fighter of Destiny, featuring actor Lu Han, has a budget of 400 million yuan ($60 million).

The Tencent list of upcoming films also includes some international coproductions.

Japanese filmmaker Takashige Ichise, who's known for The Grudge, will work with Tencent Pictures to produce Koseidon, a cinematic remake of the popular Japanese TV series Dinosaur Corps Koseidon.

Among the other collaborations is the monster epic Kong: Skull Island, slated for release in March 2017.