American director James Ivory's new project The White Countess, which is also a joint venture between China and the UK, will raise the curtains for the Shanghai International Film Festival on June 17th.

 

The director will promote the film premiere in Shanghai along with lead actress Natasha Richardson and her superstar husband, Liam Neeson, star of Schindler's List.

 

Renowned French director Luc Besson will also arrive in Shanghai at the end of this month to head the jury panel at the film fest.

 

Japanese star Hiroyuki Sanada, who appears in Chen Kaige's martial arts film The Promise, will also attend the event.

 

 

 

(CRI June 7, 2006)