An Unfinished Film

An Unfinished Film (一部未完成的电影) is a 2024 docufiction film directed by Lou Ye, and written by Lou and Yingli Ma.

It had its world premiere on 16 May 2024 at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, in the Special Screenings section.

Synopsis
In January 2020, a film crew reunites near Wuhan to resume the shooting of a film halted ten years earlier, only to share the unexpected challenges as cities are placed under lockdown.

Cast

 * Qin Hao as Jiang Cheng
 * Mao Xiaorui as Director Xiaorui
 * Qi Xi as Sang Qi
 * Huang Xuan as Ye Xiao
 * Liang Ming as Ah-Jian
 * Zhang Songwen as Tang
 * Youyou as Paopao

Production
The film combines outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage from Lou's previous films—Suzhou River (2000), Spring Fever (2009), Mystery (2012), and The Shadow Play (2018)—and original footage of a film crew playing versions of themselves. It was originally conceived as a film consisting of old footage of Qin Hao playing various roles, which Lou felt "reflected the changes in China over the past decade or so", but as the COVID-19 pandemic began, it became a film centred on filmmaking during the pandemic.

, a separate film by Lou also consisting of footage from Spring Fever, Mystery, and The Shadow Play and new footage featuring Qin, Huang Xuan, Liang Ming, and Qi Xi was in production.

Release
It was nominated for the L'Œil d'or for best documentary at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival where it had its world premiere on 16 May 2024 in the Special Screenings section.