Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's latest film "Aftershock," based on the tragic Tangshan earthquake some 30 years ago, premiered nationwide today.

"Aftershock" poster [CRI]

It's the first ever IMAX film produced by a mainland director.

Inspired from the novel of the same name, the harrowing film tells the experience of three family members - mother, older sister and son - who survived but were separated in the disaster only to be reunited in 2008 when another earthquake rocked southwest Sichuan Province.

The film shows the decision made by a Chinese mother who saves her son over her daughter, only later to learn that the daughter unexpectedly survived after the mother and son were evacuated.

Director Feng said what he tried to emphasize in the film was the affection between the people, as he hopes the film will bring audiences a feeling of warmth and hope.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Tangshan in Northern China on July 28, 1976, which resulted in the deaths of more than 200,000 people as well as causing 3 billion yuan (430 million US dollars) worth of damages.