Beijing film fest expects to set new records(2)

Since September 2013, 837 films from 88 countries and regions across six continents have registered to compete for the Tiantan Award, including 682 international films and 155 Chinese films. After three selection rounds, 15 entries advanced to the Competition Section. These 15 films will be short-listed for the Tiantan Award. Among them, 13 are from foreign countries or regions. They are as follows:

"A Promise" presented by French director Patrice Leconte, "Attila Marcel" presented by French director Sylvain Chomet, "Carmen" directed by Romanian director Doru Nitescu, Serbian film "Circles," "Hope" presented by South Korean director Lee Jun-ik, the Singaporean film "Ilo Ilo," "In Bloom," a result of the cooperation between Georgian director Nana Ekvtimishvili and German director Simon Gross, the Dutch film "Matterhorn" presented by director Diederik Ebbinge, "Siddharth" presented by director Richie Mehta and jointly produced by India and Canada, "The Enemy Within" presented by Greek director Yorgos Tsemberopoulos, "The Rocket" presented by Australian director Kim Mordaunt, "Third Person of Belgium" presented by Canadian director Paul Haggis, "Zoran, My Nephew the Idiot" presented by director Matteo Oleotto and jointly produced by Italy and Slovenia. There are also two Chinese films on the list: "The Grandmaster" directed by Wong Kar-Wai and "American Dreams in China" directed by Peter Chan.

Beijing Film Panorama has received 1520 film registrations from 79 countries and regions across six continents, including 1,127 international films and 393 Chinese films. These films widely vary in genre and style. Most of them haven't been projected in China before. Some films are in fact award-winners from other famous international film festivals held in the past two years. Both film quality and quantity have been improved compared to the previous two sessions. Additionally, 17 leading directors, producers and corporate operating officers and experts from Russia, the United States, France, the UK and China's Taiwan have been invited to attend three film forums.

Meanwhile, the American Film Institute will for the first time join hands with Beijing Film Market to hold a "Hollywood Movie Master Class" during the film festival, which will invite film industry experts and film masters from the United States and other places to speak to young Chinese filmmakers and share their valuable experiences. The "Hollywood Movie Master Class" will invite Carlos Saldanha, director of "Rio 2"; Christopher Dodd, chairman and CEO of the American Film Institute; Frederick Huntsberry, global COO of Paramount Pictures Inc.; and several other industry veterans.

The 4th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) will for the first time set up a Documentary section, which contains four units: submissions review &recommendation, outstanding works screening, forum, salon and activities. Adhering to the submission principle of the diversity of nations, subjects and styles, a total of 435 entries from 20 countries and regions was received. After two assessment rounds, 29 entries have made onto the short list. During the 4th BJIFF, the International Panel comprising experts in the field of documentary film, from China, the UK, Canada and Australia, will cast their votes for one or two "Expert Panel Especially Recommended Works" and six to eight "Expert Panel Recommended Works" from the total pool of 29 documentaries.

The 4th Beijing International Film Festival will be held in Beijing from Apr. 16 to 23, 2014.