Deep Sea, one of the most anticipated blockbusters in the forthcoming Spring Festival, has earned a nomination during the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival.

Marking director Tian Xiaopeng's second feature, the movie has been shortlisted to contend for the Berlin festival's Generation Kplus, a competition program which screens state-of-the-art international cinema.

Three days earlier than its general release across China, on the first day of Spring Festival, the movie will launch a preview screening in a total of 100 IMAX cinemas on Jan 19, which has generated lots of buzz among Tian's diehard fans.

Tian shot to fame after his directorial debut Monkey King: Hero is Back, a dark horse soaring in 2015 that has been widely considered as a game changer to revive then struggling domestic animated industry.

Delving into the theme of fighting loneliness, Deep Sea tells the story of Shenxiu, a girl who has felt a deep sadness since being abandoned by her mother. While on a family cruise, she falls into the sea and breaks into a mysterious restaurant where she meets an inventive underwater chef and embarks on a journey between dreams and reality.

The movie will provide an immersive experience through IMAX technology and features an advanced visual effect that demonstrates 3D images similar to the traditional Chinese ink painting, according to the producers.