As the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is about to draw to a close, this prestigious event – the only A-category international film festival in China – has once again made history. It received approximately 4,100 submissions from 125 countries and regions, with first-time submissions coming from countries such as Ghana and Mozambique and a notable increase in submissions from the Americas and Africa.

With the city as its set and light and shadow as its narrative, this year's SIFF has used cinema as a medium to blur the boundaries between the silver screen and everyday life. It has invited film enthusiasts to join a celebration that transcends time and space, showcasing the warmth and sincerity of Shanghai.

Kozet Zelalem is a young Ethiopian entrepreneur engaged in trade between China and Africa, who lives in Shanghai. She believes that the SIFF brings together outstanding films from around the globe. She notes that despite their diverse cultural backgrounds, these works always manage to touch the hearts of audiences. She found a profound resonance with the film "Ne Zha", relating to its message that one's destiny should be self-determined. She believes that even in unfamiliar surroundings, one must try to live fully and write his or her own story. She says she is making her own life's movie in Shanghai.