one of China's few rising female filmmakers, said they were at a sidewalk coffee stand in Toronto in 2005, having presented their film, Dam Street, at the Canadian city's International Film Festival.
"Looking at Toronto's city life, Fang and I suddenly started chatting about our city, Beijing, and we decided immediately to write a story about Beijing today," said Li.
The result was the new film, Lost in Beijing, to be released locally as, Apple.
The film delves into the lives of the thousands of migrant workers who are lured each year to prosperous Beijing, hoping to make their fortune and enjoy the attractive modern lifestyle on offer.
Apple centers on two families, one rich and one poor, thrust together in harsh circumstances in China's booming capital.
The pretty Liu Pingguo (whose given name means apple in Chinese) has recently moved to the city with her husband, An Kun. Having both found jobs, they now earn enough to lead a modest life, even managing to save a little.
