Film festival also a chance for big business
By Xu Wei |
June 17, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Shanghai International Film Festival is a platform that brings together film veterans and newcomers, where they can find inspiration for creation, investment and new collaborations. Since its debut in 1993, the only A-category international film festival in China has made remarkable contributions to the development of the country's film industry.
According to the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), it is Asia's fastest growing film festival.
During this year's festival (June 16-24), around 300 acclaimed films from around the world will be screened. Of course, the highlight of the festival will be the announcement of the Golden Goblet Award for best film.
A total of 1,643 entries from 106 countries and regions have been whittled down to 17 nominees. They include the Indian film "Color of Sky," Danish production "Excuse Me," and two domestic productions, Huo Jianqi's biography "Xiao Hong" and Gao Qunshu's black comedy "Detective Hunter Zhang."
Famed French director Jean Jacques Annaud, whose credits include "The Lover" and "The Name of the Rose," will head the seven-member jury that selects the Golden Goblet winner.
The festival also means the public can try their luck at celebrity spotting at trendy spots around town. More than 400 stars are expected to be in Shanghai for the event this year. Top names include Hollywood actor Aaron Eckhart, Dutch actress Famke Janssen, Japanese heartthrob Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, South Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo, Hong Kong actors Tony Leung and Chow Yun-fat, and mainland actress Zhang Ziyi.
Meanwhile, the "Asian New Talent Award" will continue to encourage young filmmakers and provide them with a platform to screen their work.
The festival has long been devoted to supporting promising young directors in Asia. The films by these directors often provide fresh insight into the dreams and lives of the young generation.
As for movie buffs, the international film panorama is always popular. Last year the panorama attracted more than 300,000 cinemagoers.
The list of international films this year include Kim Ki-duk's self-portrait movie "Arirang," which received the Un Certain Regard Prize for best picture at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, Woody Allen's Oscar-winning film "Midnight in Paris" and the Golden Bear winner "Caesar Must Die" by Italian filmmaking brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani.
There will also be a retrospective of late Hong Kong kung fu director Chang Cheh, Frailcois Truffaut, one of the founders of the French New Wave, and Chinese film artist Wu Yigong. Three films starring legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor will also be screened - "Cleopatra," "Blue Bird" and "The Only Game in Town." Sci-fi fans may be drawn to Georges Melies's black and white movie "A Trip to the Moon."
Three acclaimed old Chinese films - "Crossroads," (1937) "Spring River Flows East" (1947) and "Crow and Sparrow" (1949) - will also be screened in their newly restored version.
Additionally, 11 small budget Chinese productions will premiere. These include the touching family drama "Only Walk," the romance comedy "First Time" and adventure film "Camel Caravan." Meanwhile, the festival also allows film studios and companies a chance to do some business. More than 400 major film companies will participate in the festival's international film market and seek projects and ideas.
Filmmakers from all over the world will get the opportunity to pitch their films to investors while those with a finished film may find a distributor.
The international film forum has proved to be a good occasion for brainstorming. This year's forum will invite industry experts, filmmakers and scriptwriters to discuss heated topics and industry issues such as how to tell Chinese stories to the world, how to balance art and commerce in film production, the possibility of cross-culture co-productions and China's future response to Hollywood.
Veteran film producers Lorna Tee and Gary Kurtz will share their expertise in the selection and development of good film ideas and scripts with local filmmakers at the master class. Hong Kong martial arts film director Tsui Hark and kung fu star Chan Koon-tai will discuss the future of the genre.
All films will be shown in their original language with both English and Chinese subtitles. Tickets for each screening will be priced between 40 yuan and 60 yuan. Tickets can be purchased at the theaters, www.ticket2010.com and www.gewara.com.
According to the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), it is Asia's fastest growing film festival.
During this year's festival (June 16-24), around 300 acclaimed films from around the world will be screened. Of course, the highlight of the festival will be the announcement of the Golden Goblet Award for best film.
A total of 1,643 entries from 106 countries and regions have been whittled down to 17 nominees. They include the Indian film "Color of Sky," Danish production "Excuse Me," and two domestic productions, Huo Jianqi's biography "Xiao Hong" and Gao Qunshu's black comedy "Detective Hunter Zhang."
Famed French director Jean Jacques Annaud, whose credits include "The Lover" and "The Name of the Rose," will head the seven-member jury that selects the Golden Goblet winner.
The festival also means the public can try their luck at celebrity spotting at trendy spots around town. More than 400 stars are expected to be in Shanghai for the event this year. Top names include Hollywood actor Aaron Eckhart, Dutch actress Famke Janssen, Japanese heartthrob Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, South Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo, Hong Kong actors Tony Leung and Chow Yun-fat, and mainland actress Zhang Ziyi.
Meanwhile, the "Asian New Talent Award" will continue to encourage young filmmakers and provide them with a platform to screen their work.
The festival has long been devoted to supporting promising young directors in Asia. The films by these directors often provide fresh insight into the dreams and lives of the young generation.
As for movie buffs, the international film panorama is always popular. Last year the panorama attracted more than 300,000 cinemagoers.
The list of international films this year include Kim Ki-duk's self-portrait movie "Arirang," which received the Un Certain Regard Prize for best picture at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, Woody Allen's Oscar-winning film "Midnight in Paris" and the Golden Bear winner "Caesar Must Die" by Italian filmmaking brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani.
There will also be a retrospective of late Hong Kong kung fu director Chang Cheh, Frailcois Truffaut, one of the founders of the French New Wave, and Chinese film artist Wu Yigong. Three films starring legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor will also be screened - "Cleopatra," "Blue Bird" and "The Only Game in Town." Sci-fi fans may be drawn to Georges Melies's black and white movie "A Trip to the Moon."
Three acclaimed old Chinese films - "Crossroads," (1937) "Spring River Flows East" (1947) and "Crow and Sparrow" (1949) - will also be screened in their newly restored version.
Additionally, 11 small budget Chinese productions will premiere. These include the touching family drama "Only Walk," the romance comedy "First Time" and adventure film "Camel Caravan." Meanwhile, the festival also allows film studios and companies a chance to do some business. More than 400 major film companies will participate in the festival's international film market and seek projects and ideas.
Filmmakers from all over the world will get the opportunity to pitch their films to investors while those with a finished film may find a distributor.
The international film forum has proved to be a good occasion for brainstorming. This year's forum will invite industry experts, filmmakers and scriptwriters to discuss heated topics and industry issues such as how to tell Chinese stories to the world, how to balance art and commerce in film production, the possibility of cross-culture co-productions and China's future response to Hollywood.
Veteran film producers Lorna Tee and Gary Kurtz will share their expertise in the selection and development of good film ideas and scripts with local filmmakers at the master class. Hong Kong martial arts film director Tsui Hark and kung fu star Chan Koon-tai will discuss the future of the genre.
All films will be shown in their original language with both English and Chinese subtitles. Tickets for each screening will be priced between 40 yuan and 60 yuan. Tickets can be purchased at the theaters, www.ticket2010.com and www.gewara.com.
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