Hainan's inaugural film fest kicks off
- By Zhang Rui and Zheng Chengqiong
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 12, 2018
Chinese actor Chang Chen, actress Jiang Wenli, American actor Nicolas Cage and local officials launch the first Hainan International Film Festival at an opening ceremony held in Sanya, Hainan province, Dec. 11, 2018. [Photo/ China.org.cn]
The first Hainan International Film Festival opened Tuesday night in the tropical coastal city of Sanya of China's southernmost island province of Hainan, aiming to offer a different festival experience.
In a speech at the opening ceremony, Tong Daochi, Communist Party chief of Sanya, said that, against the background of China embracing a new round of opening-up with top-level design, the film festival is appearing at a critical moment when Hainan is promoting the development of a pilot free trade zone and exploring establishment of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics.
"It is therefore more meaningful in offering a high starting point and a strategic vision," Tong said, adding Hainan aims to build itself into a major player in the film industry not only in China but also in Asia, while "presenting film artists worldwide with a totally different international film festival full of tropical charm."
The word of "different" could be felt in selection of the films to be shown. Lacking big-budget productions, the festival's film exhibition program is screening more than 100 films from over 30 countries and regions comprising mostly low-and-medium-budget, art-house, critically-applauded and rarely known titles outside the realm of Hollywood and Chinese blockbusters.
The program will feature the world premieres of "Uncle and House," "The Photographer" and "Vanishing Facial Makeup," the Asian premieres of "Winter Ridge," "Night Accident," "The Swan," "Handle with Care," Hello, Rain!" and "Yantai Mountain," as well as a virtual reality (VR) short film section and a special unit focusing on Peking-Opera-adapted films such as "Dragon and Phoenix Present Auspiciousness," "Farewell My Concubine" and "Mu Guiying Taking Command."
Li Shanshan, curator of the exhibition, said: "In this geographically special island of Hainan, we have designed a program of eight distinctive sections as well as a Next Wave Hainan section introducing local filmmakers."
There was another big feature for Hainan film fest, Li added, explaining that, "with warm sea winds and soft sandy beaches, the tourist-landmark Dadong Sea in Sanya will remain a paradise for worldwide visitors in daytime, while turning into a special free sand cinema" at night, offering selected feature films, silent films with live music, and short films from different screening units.
This year's film festival has invited kung fu megastar Jackie Chan to be its promotional ambassador, and bringing together nearly 100 domestic and international filmmakers and artists, such as Ren Zhonglun, chairman of the Shanghai Film Group, and Jim Rygiel, producer of "The Lord of The Rings," famous actors Chang Chen, Zhu Yilong, Wang Baoqiang as well as Nicolas Cage, Isabelle Huppert and Aamir Khan.
The Irish-Norwegian band Secret Garden and Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen have also been invited to perform at the festival.
In a congratulatory message to the festival, Jackie Chan wrote: Hainan International Film Festival presents the rich wisdom and intellectual products of humanity to show China's open and inclusive culture and spirit with moving stories of the harmonious development of China and the world.
American actor Nicolas Cage, who has worked with Chinese director John Woo, praised Hainan at the opening ceremony, saying he believed the island province was a good place to shoot films and he hoped to work with his Chinese counterparts here in the future, as he had been awed by the island's landscapes on his first visit here. The actor attended a launch ceremony for a new film museum in Sanya earlier the day.
The festival, which will run from Dec. 11 to 16, aims to build a platform for communication, cooperation, and trade in the international film industry. According to the organizing committee, it features a wide variety of activities, such as film exhibitions and forums with industry heavyweights.
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