Squid Piscator in the Heart of the Sea, a documentary film shot in Weihai, Shandong province, won the Maple Leaf Award for Best Documentary Film at the 9th Vancouver Chinese Film Festival.

The certificate of award. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Jointly produced by the Weihai publicity department and Shandong Firedragon Media, the film is China's first large-scale ocean-focused documentary. It follows squid piscators in the depths of the ocean, detailing their repetitive monotonous daily work and life, as well as their rich and complex inner world.

The film contains plain and simple emotional power, and is an excellent documentary film with both artistic quality and value, said industry insiders.

Since its release in January 2019, the film has received wide praise from critics and audiences, enjoying great success in the film industry. In June 2019, it was awarded as the 2019 Outstanding Domestic Documentary by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and was selected into the "classic film exhibition celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China."

In November 2020, it was nominated for the "Documentary/Science and Education Film Unit" of the 33rd Golden Rooster Film Awards of China.

In June 2021, it was selected as one of 40 overseas promotion works in the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival.

The coastal city of Weihai will launch more ocean-themed film and television works to tell China's marine stories and spread China's marine culture, said local officials.