IN the Chinese film market, April is usually considered an off-peak season with no major holidays and fewer blockbuster releases. However, this year proves to be anything but lackluster, as several award-winning and acclaimed films will be screened. The Shenzhen Art Film Screening project has also selected some of these films for discounted screenings.

Hosted by the Publicity Department of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC, the monthly Shenzhen Art Film Screening project is an open invitation for moviegoers to appreciate art films at affordable prices at four cinemas in the city. Audience members can also engage in discussions with outstanding filmmakers during certain events.

“Anatomy of a Fall,” which opened across Chinese mainland theaters over the weekend, has garnered significant online buzz, securing the second slot in the national box-office charts of new movies Friday.

Directed by Justine Triet, the French film unfolds through the lens of a female director and follows a career-driven woman suspected of her husband’s murder. Many Chinese fans appreciate the Palme d’Or-winning movie for its ability to provoke in-depth discussions about gender inequality and stereotypes toward women.

Local movie fans are in for a treat this month with more critically acclaimed titles. Hong Kong movie “In Broad Daylight” is based on real events, where an investigative reporter infiltrates a home for the disabled to uncover staff abuse, leading to startling revelations after her story is reported. It enjoyed its commercial success in Hong Kong in November and dominated the nominations for the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Fans of Hayao Miyazaki should not miss “The Boy and the Heron,” winner of the Best Animated Feature at the 96th Academy Awards. It revolves around a teenage haunted by his mother’s tragic death, who moves from Tokyo to his stepmother’s rural home. As he grapples with his new environment, the mysterious appearance of a persistent gray heron adds layers of complexity to his journey.

Miyazaki, renowned for his themes of tenderness, melancholy and wonder, clinched his second Oscar for this film, which resonates with those who grew up with his classic animated tales.

U.S. documentary “Kim’s Video” focuses on the story of a legendary video store in New York City that thrived for three decades. Renowned for its extensive film collection, the store held significant cultural value as a meeting place for cinephiles and filmmakers. The documentary’s subject is of great interest to film enthusiasts.

Moviegoers can also enjoy Gu Xiaogang’s Hangzhou-set “Dwelling by the West Lake” which follows a young man who rescues his mother entangled in a fraudulent organization. Pema Tseden’s “Snow Leopard” portrays a poignant father-son conflict over the fate of a snow leopard that breaks into their home, and Ning Hao’s acclaimed movie “No Man’s Land” (2013) presents another compelling viewing option for this month.

Venue 1: Broadway Cinematheque, 5/F, MixC World, Nanshan District (华润万象天地五楼深圳百老汇电影中心)

Metro: Line 1 to Hi-tech Park Station (高新园站), Exit A

Venue 2: Emperor Cinema, B1, UpperHills (深业上城B1层英皇电影城)

Metro: Line 10 to Donggualing Station (冬瓜岭站), Exit E

Venue 3: The MixC Cinema, 3/F, The MixC, Luohu District (深圳万象城三楼深圳万象影城)

Metro: Line 1 or 2 to Grand Theater Station (大剧院站), Exit C

Venue 4: Wanda Cinema, 4/F, Haiya Mega Mall, Bao’an District (海雅缤纷城四楼万达影城)

Metro: Line 12 to Xin’an Park Station (新安公园站), Exit D(Cao Zhen)