From June 11 to 20 in Beijing, the capital's leg of first British Film Festival to be held in China will light up the screens of local cinemas with exciting, original and cutting edge films from the UK.

Audiences will have the opportunity to view a number of new releases from the UK, including hits like Calendar Girls, along with Capture the Castle, Touching the Void and Wondrous Oblivion.

Organized by the Culture and Education Section of the British Embassy and the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the festival will be screened in Beijing at the Star City cinema at Oriental Plaza.

The festival will open first in Shanghai on June 6 and will also travel to Guangzhou and Chongqing later this year.

In recent years, British films like The English Patient, the James Bond adventure Die Another Day and the Harry Potter films have highlighted the creative talent from the UK's film industry. Talented directors, outstanding actors, remarkable cinematography, and plots of topical interest make British films respected worldwide.

Industry experts attribute the success of the UK to its pool of talented performers, experienced and professional technicians and crews, and top quality studio, post production, visual effects and music facilities.

"We are looking forward to sharing some of the best movies to come out of the UK in the last two years with Chinese audiences, and to share our industry knowledge through workshops and seminars arranged with the Beijing Film Academy," said Michael O'Sullivan, Cultural Counselor and British Council Director in China. "We also look forward to hearing what Chinese audiences and experts think of British film."

(China Daily June 3, 2004)