Chinese mainland A-list director Chen Kaige's new blockbuster, The Promise, is reported to be aimed at next year's Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, and even the 2006 Oscars.  

   
The 300 million yuan magic epic saga finished its painstaking six-month shoot in September and has begun its fourteen months long production.
   
Following in the footsteps of Zhang Yimou's martial arts movie House of Flying Daggers, this much-touted saga is planned to be screened at the Cannes and Venice Film festivals and compete for Oscar Awards.
   
The film stars 23-year-old Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung, actor Nicholas Tse Ting and Korean actor Jang Dong Gun.

(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2004)