Li began her career in entertainment at a young age, serving as a presenter at a local TV station.
[3] The film encountered issues during limited international screenings and was largely unseen by mainland Chinese audiences.
[5] From being the host of a local channel station to a documentary director at CCTV, Li Yu was never satisfied with her career.
[citation needed] Her documentary filmmaking style was known for making people uncomfortable, prompting her to turn one of her stories into a movie.
A friend from the United States sent Li's first movie, Fish and Elephant, to Venice, where it was unexpectedly selected to participate in a film festival.