Chinese-language films are expected to once again have a prominent presence in the upcoming Venice Film Festival.

 

Festival director Marco Mueller was recently in Hong Kong and met with many people in the industry, such as Johnnie To.

 

Sources close to Johnnie To have said that Mueller urged the director to finish his two upcoming film projects Sparrow and Exile as he was keen to include them in the Venice line-up.

 

Mueller also showed interest in Yau Nai Hoi's Eye in the Sky, New Wave director Patrick Tam's comeback film After this our Exile, Ann Hui's The Aunt's Postmodern Life starring Chow Yun-fat, and Dog Bite Dog.

 

It has been predicted by some industry insiders that Mueller might bestow Feng Xiaogang's The Banquet with the prestigious spot of opening or closing film.

 

Mueller is currently traveling around Asia and finalizing the Venice line-up, which will be announced on July 27th in Rome.

 

Last year's Venice Film Festival displayed an impressive array of HK films, including Tsui Hark's Seven Swords as opening night film, and Peter Chan's Perhaps Love as closing night film. 

 

(hkfilmart July 3, 2006)