Chinese films will be in the spotlight during the 26th Vancouver
International Film Festival (VIFF), which runs from September 27 to
October 12.
The festival, which kicked off Thursday, will showcase up to 24
Chinese films in a new China focus program named "China in the
Spotlight" in its expanded "Dragons and Tigers: the Cinemas of East
Asia" section, according to a VIFF release.
"We're proud to be able to represent the breadth of critical
Chinese filmmaking today by presenting at VIFF a cross-section of
films from each of these vital areas," said Shelly Kraicer,
programmer of "China in the Spotlight."
The Sun Also Rises by Jiang Wen, Lust, Caution
by Ang Lee,? Lost in Beijing by Li Yu will be among
the most notable films to be shown during the festival.
A lineup of 333 films from about 75 countries will be shown
during the festival, drawing an audience of over 150,000 people
worldwide in the next two weeks, according to VIFF Director Alan
Franey.
Highlighted international titles include the German-Turkish film
The Edge of Heaven; the Romanian film 4 Months, 3
Weeks and 2 Days; and the Iranian film Persepolis.
All of these have won major awards at the Venice Film Festival and
the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
The festival opened with Atonement, adapted from Ian
McEwan' s acclaimed novel and directed by Joe Wright. It will close
with the French romantic comedy Priceless.
The Vancouver International Film Festival is an annual film
festival held in Vancouver, Canada for two weeks between late
September and early October. The festival began in 1982 and is
operated by the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival
Society. The festival shows both Canadian and international films,
and has established itself as a reputation as a stepping-stone for
many young Asian filmmakers. In 2004, it was the largest exhibitor
of Asian films outside of Asia.
(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2007)