One of Jia's favorite moments was when he was editing a movie at the studio, Manuel suddenly quoted Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni and French film critic Andre Bazin.

"I felt touched by the moment, as I have not heard anyone else mention those two names for around five or six years. All that I have heard about is the box office or if a project will get approved. I really want to talk about cinematic art," Jia says.

With more than 40 percent of Chinese cinemas still closed due to the pandemic, the sluggish domestic movie market is facing a chilly winter, struggling with shrinking audience numbers and a shortage of blockbusters — as many industry insiders have discussed for a long time.

"I haven't shot a feature film for four years. I wish I could shoot a new movie," says Jia, adding that he hopes Chinese filmmakers can maintain their enthusiasm to survive the winter.