Chinese director Jia Zhangke, last year's Gold Lion winner, will submit his new documentary to the Venice Film Festival this year.

Wu Yong, literally "Useless," tells how young Chinese fashion designer Ma Ke started the brand and took it to the Fall/Winter 2007 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show in Paris.

The film would compete for the Horizons Documentary Prize at the festival, said Zhou Qiang, the film's producer.

Jia walked away with last year's Gold Lion award for best movie with his documentary-style Still Life capturing life in a small town submerged by the Three Gorges reservoir on China's Yangtze River. He was the second Chinese mainland director to win the award.

This time he was inspired by the designer's work. "Clothes not only protect us, but also tell stories," Jia said. "Seeing past the clothes, we can better understand consumerism in modern life."

The film was shot over five months in three Chinese cities (Fenyang, Guangzhou, and Zhuhai) as well as Paris. The 60 hours of raw material will be cut to 80 minutes.

Ma Ke is known for her creative and experimental style.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2007)