The 5th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) commenced with the screening of its opening film, "The Other Laurens," at the 1+X Mangrove Tree Cinema in Sanya, Hainan Province, on December 16. The event drew a multitude of film enthusiasts keen to take part in the festival's inaugural moments.

Directed by Belgian filmmaker Claude Schmitz, "The Other Laurens" is a detective thriller nominated in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival. Notably, the film is making its Asian premiere at the 5th HIIFF.

Schmitz's creative inspiration can be traced back to his boarding school days, where he was introduced to cinema through the work of esteemed directors like Ingmar Bergman and Akira Kurosawa. Later, his exploration of films featuring masculine energy from the 1980s, including movies by Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal, influenced the creation of "The Other Laurens."

"The Other Laurens" tells the unfolding story of Gabriel, a private detective investigating the mysterious death of his niece's father. As Gabriel delves further into the investigation, he confronts the ghosts of his past and becomes entangled in a peculiar case that blends fantasy and drug trafficking.

The film seamlessly merges tough-guy black humor with contemporary audiovisual elements, promising audiences a unique and engaging cinematic experience.