CANNES, France, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese director Bi Gan won on Saturday the Special Award at the 78th Cannes Film Festival for his epic fiction feature Resurrection, known in Chinese as Kuang Ye Shi Dai.

In his acceptance speech, Bi thanked the Festival and his cast. He also expressed his gratitude for all those who have constantly contributed to the development of cinema.

Resurrection, directed by the 35-year-old Bi Gan, premiered late Thursday night. He used this two-hour and forty-minute film to show his love for cinema, starting the movie with a silent movie style.

Festival organizers introduced Resurrection as a work that showcases the continued evolution of Bi's creativity, while staying true to the sensory and poetic qualities that define his unique cinematic style.

Bi first attended Cannes in 2015 with his debut feature film. The Festival said that he has since established himself as a major player in shaping and defining the new generation of Chinese arthouse cinema.

This year, a total of 22 feature films were selected to compete for the Festival's highest honor, the Palme d'Or.