Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's Shoplifters, a bittersweet fable about a lower-class family, won the top prize of the 71st Cannes Film Festival. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Quite a surprise to domestic fans, Kore-eda revealed he has been influenced by renowned Chinese filmmakers such as Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, and made friends with art house directors Hou Hsiao-hsien and Jia Zhangke.

"These directors helped me think of the type of film I wanted to make, and how to present the stories about my country and society through films," Kore-eda recounted during a post-screening meeting in Shanghai.

Hailed as one of the best Japanese directors to shoot children or teen actors, Kore-eda reveals that he selected 11-year-old Kairi from more than 200 candidates, and encouraged him to perform as naturally as possible.

The movie, also written by Koreeda was purchased by the Beijing-based film company Road Pictures for its Chinese mainland screening in May, and will be distributed by Huayi Brothers.