Chinese director Lu Chuan (I) poses with cast members Qin Lan (M) and Liu Ye as they promote the film "City of Life and Death" at the San Sebastian Film Festival in San Sebastian, Spain on September 21, 2009. [Javier Etxezarreta/CFP]

Chinese director Lu Chuan has confirmed that he is dating Qin Lan, a lead actress in his most recent film, the news Web site Sohu.com reports.

Sohu.com published a series of photos on Monday showing the couple kissing in a parking lot. The photos were taken more than a year ago during the filming of "City of Life and Death."

Lu, who is in Spain promoting his film at the San Sebastian Film Festival, acknowledged the relationship via text message when Sohu.com sought confirmation. Qin and Liu Ye, another cast member, are also attending the festival.

The news report cited sources close to Lu who said the couple fell in love during the filming process, but both intended to keep their relationship low-key.

"City of Life and Death", a heavy reprise of the Nanjing Massacre during World War II, is Lu's third feature film. The director is now regarded as a representative of China's sixth-generation film directors. In Lu's current film, Qin Lan plays the wife of John Rabe's secretary.

The black-and-white film is competing for the Golden Shell, the San Sebastian Film Festival's top award. Lu told a news conference at the festival, "This is an important film for history. I wanted to deliver to the world the truth about this massacre, which is little known outside of China."

Before going to Spain, Lu had just completed a trip to the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada where "City of Life and Death" drew many tears.

The film opened in China in April and quickly became a box-office leader.

(CRI September 22, 2009)