A close-up youthful but tired face, set against the backdrop of distant snow-capped mountains with the vague image of a bicycle in the foreground...this is the newly-released poster for the youth adventure film "Kora".

The young face featured on the poster is the little-known actor Zhang Shuhao. This being director Du Jiayi's debut film, the cast is made up mostly of inexperienced young actors, including Zhang Shuhao, Li Xiaochuan, and Li Tao.

Du Jiyi provided explanation as to why he preferred to fill the roles of his debut movie with newcomers. "Youth, dreams and persistence are Kora's key elements. Therefore, superstars definitely don't fit the roles. Actors need one hundred percent concentration during shooting, which for this movie takes place over 2000km at a high altitude of over 3,500 meters." He went on to say, "Simplicity is what this film hopes to create, and new faces can achieve that more easily."

"Kora" centers on the journey of a 22-year-old man who travels by bicycle to Tibet via the Yunnan-Tibet borders. As a result of embarking on this journey, the young man's life suddenly gains meaning.

It has been revealed that the movie focuses mainly upon the characters, while the magnificent scenery is weakened intentionally, achieved in part thanks to filming the movie out of season.

Director Du thinks it is natural and understandable for young people to want to realize their own dreams, to feel the world and experience freedom. Journeys such as the one portrayed in the film are required to release the raging hormones of young adolescents.

The film was recently nominated in the 48th Golden Horse Awards "Best New Director" and "Best Adapted Screenplay" categories, after being short-listed for the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival.

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