Never too old for school

Zhang Xiaodong was by all means unlike his classmates at the Shanghai Vancouver Film School (SHVFS).

Besides being much older than everyone, the 54-year-old also comes from a background that has nothing to do with filmmaking. After majoring in mathematics in college, Zhang went on getting a master's degree in international politics and economy. For most of his career, he worked as a fund manager in China and the United States.

"I knew nothing about filmmaking. It was my love for movies that drove me to enroll in SHVFS. I was just curious about learning the theories and techniques involved in making a film," he said.