Legendary Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore—best known for classics like Cinema Paradiso—is both charmed and puzzled by how deeply Chinese audiences connect with his work. While presiding over the Shanghai Film Festival’s competition jury, he reflected on his unexpected popularity in China (where his films were surprise box-office hits) and briefly touched on a shelved sci-fi project. There’s a warmth here—Tornatore seems genuinely moved by the cultural embrace, even if he doesn’t fully understand it.

Editor’s Note: It’s rare for foreign auteurs to achieve mainstream love in China, so Tornatore’s candid musings highlight how art can transcend borders in unpredictable ways. His presence at the festival also underscores Shanghai’s growing clout as a global cinema hub—and hey, maybe that abandoned sci-fi project isn’t entirely off the table?