To call the Chinese capital a film crazed city would be an understatement. Currently, Beijing has more studios, regular film goers and movie theatres than any other city in China. Such a film obsessed city wouldn’t be complete without its own international film festival.
Last year those dreams came true, and now Beijing is hosting its second in as many years. CCTV reporter Song Yaotian witnessed the star-studded red carpet grand opening ceremony of the second Beijing International Film Festival on Monday.
Internationally acclaimed actress Zhang Ziyi led the pack of three hundred stars, directors, filmmakers and entrepreneurs to grace the red carpet that also included Chinese director Feng Xiaogang, actress Fan Bingbing, and singer actor Lee Hong Wong.
Hong Kong star Andy Lau, actress Deanie Ip, the two leads of the recent award winning film "A Simple Life" from the Hong Kong Film Festival and the Golden Horse Film Awards, also showed up.
Other stars were also there to promote their latest film projects, including actress Liu Yifei and actor Deng Chao for "The Four Great Detectives", a film that will hit screens this summer and is based on a Wuxia story. Two time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner also showed up, to promote his new film "The Avengers" which will open in China in May.
American director James Cameron was definitely one of the biggest names to grace the red carpet. His "Titanic 3D" is currently flooding movie fans with a teched up version of his blockbuster classic.
The red carpet procession was followed by a grand opening ceremony held at the National Convention Center in the city’s Olympic Park, the main venue of the festival.
James Cameron was invited to give a short speech where he said he was amazed that in just two weeks, Titanic 3D’s box office take surpassed the film’s total revenue from other parts of the world.
The following gig featured video and audio spectacles, and movie themed programs, which included a performance by pop star Liu Huan, who sang the theme song from the animated film "Lotus Lantern". Lee Hong Wong also reprised the theme song from the classic film Casablanca, "As Time Goes By".
Veteran actor Li Xuejian was given the annual Outstanding Contribution Award issued to an individual, and ten film were honored for their good performance in the world market including "The Flowers of War", "Legend of Rabbit" and "Go Dulala".
The opening ceremony launches a week long festival that will include the screenings of hundreds of films, forums, a film carnival at the Olympic park and film themed concerts.
The festival runs until Saturday. There will be 260 films on show from 50 countries and regions on cinema screens across Beijing. Among them are Oscar winning films The Artist, Hugo, A Seperation, and the 3D Lion King. That’s a rare treat for film fans in Beijing who want to watch these top films on the big screen. The Beijing Film Festival might only be in its second year, but it’s already establishing itself as an event that you won’t want to miss!
Iranian film "A Seperation" opens the Beijing Screening along with Chinese director Zhang Yang’s "Full Circle", while "The Artist" will be the closing film of the screening section.