Ne Zha begins hunt for Oscar glory with Academy screening

LOS ANGELES - The box-office-busting Chinese animated film, Ne Zha, selected as the Chinese mainland's official Academy Award submission this year, had its first official academy screening on Wednesday, playing to a theater packed with members of the Hollywood guild and the academy.

Ne Zha is among a record-breaking total of 93 films competing for best international feature film at the 92nd Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. The film is also one of the top international contenders in the animated feature film category.

Ne Zha, adapted from an ancient Chinese myth, is the top-grossing animated film ever made in China and currently sits second on the overall box-office chart for films ever screened on the Chinese mainland. So far, the unexpected hit has grossed more than $700 million worldwide.