Zhang Yimou's 'One Second' withdrawn from Berlinale

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"One Second", a film directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou, has been withdrawn from the Berlin International Film Festival, according to an announcement on its official Weibo account issued on Monday.

It cited technical problems, but no other explanations were given.

The film had been expected to premiere at Berlinale on February 15 and compete for the Berlin Bear Awards, according to Variety, an online media on entertainment news.

Instead of the film, "Hero", an old action movie of Zhang produced in 2002, will fill in the same slot at the Berlinale.

A screenshot of the announcement by the official Weibo account of "One Second": "Due to technical problems, 'One Second' cannot be screened at Berlinale. Apologies."

Set in the mid-1970s, "One Second" tells a story about how people who fulfill and persist in their spiritual goals while both material and spiritual lives were poor.

It's said the film features the personal experience of Zhang as a youngster and depicts how he fell in love with the film industry.

More Chinese films are expected at the Berlinale 2019

Starring veteran actor Zhang Yi, new actress Liu Haocun, actor and comedian Fan Wei, the film adopted a diversified lineup, many even discussing whether the new actress will become the next Zhang Ziyi or Zhou Dongyu.

"One Second" is the second Chinese film to be withdrawn from the Berlinale this year, after "Better Days", a film featuring adolescent inner struggles and school bullying announced its withdrawal from the event in February.

(L-R) Actor Du Jiang, director Wang Xiaoshuai, actress Qi Xi and actor Wang Yuan pose at the "So Long, My Son" (Di jiu tian chang) photocall during the 69th Berlinale International Film Festival at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin, Germany, February 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

But there is still a lot to expect for Chinese films. In the competition section, there are Director Wang Quan'an's Mongolian-based film "Öndög" and director Wang Xiaoshuai's romantic film "So Long, My Son".

"The Shadow Play" directed by Lou Ye and "A Dog Barking at the Moon" by Xiang Zi is screened in the Panorama section, while Bai Xue's directorial debut "The Crossing," and Wang Lina's "A First Farewell" are seen in the Generation 14plus and Generation Kplus sections respectively.

(Top Photo: Chinese director Zhang Yimou wins the Best Director award for his film "Shadow" at Taiwan's 55th Golden Horse film awards, dubbed the Chinese "Oscars," in Taipei, Taiwan, China, November 17, 2018. /VCG Photo)