(ECNS) -- Chinese film Once Upon a Time in the Middle East will represent the Chinese mainland in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
Directed by Wen Muye, the film follows a Chinese chef who travels to the Middle East to repay his debts, becomes caught up in a conflict, and cares for children orphaned by war.
Wen said the film uses a Chinese restaurant in a war zone to explore the value of peace and the impact of war on ordinary people.
The film was released in the Chinese mainland on Aug. 11 and has enjoyed strong box-office performance. As of Oct. 7, it had grossed more than 2.356 billion yuan (about $330 million), ranking second at the Chinese mainland's 2026 box office.
The film began its overseas rollout in September in Hong Kong and Macao, China, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan.
Releases in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Laos are planned for October, while releases in North America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa are also in preparation.
(By Helen Mo & intern Liu Shuangjing)
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