On February 1, Beijing time, Liu Jian's new animation work "Art Academy" was confirmed to be shortlisted for the main competition unit of this year's Berlin Film Festival. This is also the second time Director Liu Jian has been shortlisted for the main competition unit of the Berlin Film Festival after "Big World" in 2017.​

This year's 73rd Berlin Film Festival will have two Chinese-language films competing for the Golden Bear Award in the main competition unit. In addition to "Art Academy", there is also "The Light of the White Tower" directed by Zhang Lu​.

Art Academy poster

According to the previously announced plot overview, "Academy of Art" tells the story of a group of artistic youths at the Southern University of the Arts in the era of reform and opening up. They discussed art topics during the "Global Cultural Year" and experienced Friendship, love, after a series of thinking and struggling, they have reached the critical point in life and must choose what kind of people to be.

The voice actors of "Academy of Arts" include Renke, the lead singer of the Wutiaoren band, Peng Lei, the lead singer of the New Pants band, director Jia Zhangke, Shen Lihui, the lead singer of the sober band, director Zheng Dasheng, producer/screenwriter Wang Hongwei, director Xu Lei, etc.

Nishina, the lead singer of Wutiaoren Band, can be said to have stepped into the film industry. In addition to dubbing the film "Art Academy", the film "Snow Cloud" he starred in was shortlisted for the Berlin Film Festival's Adventure Unit.