Sydney China Film Festival Asian persuasion

Twilight parades, forums, opening and closing ceremonies - Sydney's China Film Festival is giving Beijing 08 a run for its money. The annual event celebrates Chinese New Year with a week of film screenings and extra-curricular fun. You'll catch Shadow Puppet - a visually stunning pic about light and shadows set in a Chinese utopia. Dream Team and Dream Weavers capture the Olympic spirit, and A Great Master Recaptured whisks us away to the Beijing Opera - a sensory treat.

Sydney China Film Festival Thu 31 Jan-Sun 7 Feb at Greater Union, 505-525 George St, Sydney 2000. (02 9273 7333 ).

www.timeoutsydney.com.au/film/sydney-china-film-festival.aspx

Sydney China Film Festival

Sydney China Film Festival is Sydney's only festival devoted entirely to Chinese cinema. This inaugural Festival will feature eighteen of the latest commercial films and art films from Mainland China and Hong Kong.

The Festival aims to promote Chinese films and deepen Australian audiences' understanding of the broad range of films being produced in mainland China and Hong Kong today, reflecting the diverse nature of modern Chinese society. From poignant examinations of some of China's 56 ethnic groups to the latest blockbusters featuring China's A-list stars, Sydney China Film Festival will present films to excite and enthral local audiences.

www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/cny/Events/Film/SydneyChinaFilmFestival.aspx

Sydney China Film Festival to unite filmmakers

By Gemma Kaczerepa

Director Tony Ayres has thrown his support behind the inaugural Sydney China Film Festival, which he believes will strengthen ties between the Chinese and Australian film industries.

Speaking today at a media conference in Sydney, the director of award-winning films Home Song Stories and Walking on Water said that the film festival would change many misconceptions surrounding China and also allow Australian audiences to understand the similarities between Australian and Chinese cultures.

"To see Chinese films, one can see the lives of Chinese people and break down preconceptions. In a world dominated by clichés about what we’re like, cinema can break that down. One can also see the similarities and universalities of common stories," he said.

Following the success of Chinese film festivals in the United States, Canada and China, organisers have decided to bring eighteen independent and blockbuster films to Australian audiences. The festival committee hopes that by bringing Chinese cinema to Australia, greater links and cross-cultural awareness can be created between filmmakers from both countries.

"It is promoting cultural exchange between Australia and China and bringing together Australian and Chinese filmmakers,” said actress and Beyond Tomorrow presenter, Anna Choy.

The film festival comes as an official part of the Chinese New Year celebrations taking place in late January. Organisers are set to make the festival an annual event in Sydney, with preparations for the 2010 festival starting imminently.

There are also plans to start a similar festival in China that promotes Australian films in order to further strengthen cross-cultural ties.

The festival runs from Saturday 31 January until Friday 6 February 2009 only at the Greater Union George Street Cinemas. The opening ceremony will take place on Friday 30 January.

The Sydney China Film Festival opens soon

The Sydney China Film Festival (SCFF) is the only festival devoted entirely to Chinese Cinema in Sydney. After being run successfully in the US, Canada and China, we are proud to be holding the inaugural Sydney China Film Festival!

The SCFF will be showcasing 18 Art and Blockbuster films from China and Hong Kong in an 8-Day Festival at Sydney George Street Greater Union Cinemas, starting from Saturday January 31st 2009 until Friday 6th 2009. The Opening Ceremony will be on Friday 30th January 2009.

The SCFF is an official part of the Sydney Chinese New Year’s Celebrations and looks forward to welcoming all members of the community and film goers to attend this Festival, catch a few films and appreciate the magic of Chinese Film.

Thanks to Principal Sponsor Lenovo, everyone who goes to Sydney George Street Greater Union Cinemas to see a film at the Sydney China Film Festival will go into the draw to win one of three Lenovo Laptop Notebooks! The more movies you see, the more entries you will get to win.

www.filmink.com.au/filmbiz/notice/395/

The Sydney China Film Festival

By Angela Bennetts

Bursting onto big screens from January 30 is the inaugural Sydney China Film Festival. Packed with more delights than a yum cha banquet, the 8-day festival boasts whimsical tales of childhood adventure, unrequited love, gun-toting gangsters and even a baby camel or two.

Light-hearted fare, such as the skinny-dipping joie de vivre of Winds Of September, sits comfortably alongside dramatic recreations of the Chinese civil war in Assembly and the smash-hit success Painted Skin, in which an evil spirit falls in love with a ruggedly handsome General. And all are steeped in the rich and unique cinematic flavour of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Head to www.sydneychinafilmfestival.org.au for more to tickle your fancy or pop into George St Greater Union for a brochure of the best cinema magic China has to offer. Happy Year of the Ox!

Event Listing

This film festival will be held as party of Sydney's Chinese New Year festivities and will feature 18 Chinese films premiering in Australia for the first time.

Location: Greater Union Cinemas, George St, Sydney

Sponsor: Lenovo

Date : Saturday, 31 January 2009 to Saturday, 7 February 2009

The film programme includes: OLD FISH, ERMA’S WEDDING, Long Tone, TWO MEN’S CLASSROOM, GUN OF MERCY, SHADOW PUPPET, THE PYE-DOG, MAGIC BOY, PROMISE, SON, WIFE AND MOTHER, THE WINDS OF SEPTEMBER, PAINTED SKIN, A PROMISE, DREAM TEAM, DREAM WEAVER and ASSEMBLY.

Shadow Puppet (Sydney China Film Festival 2009)

The story happens in Haining, a heaven on earth in China. A kung-fu artist named Wang Dajiang has special sensitivity to light. Every night, he tried to figure out the magic in the shadow of art in front of "Revolving Scenic Lamp". Wang Dajiang, the king of shadow puppet, shows the vicissitudes of his life with love and hatred in his shadow puppet world.

The Winds of September (Sydney China Film Festival 2009)

Stars: Chieh Chang, Wei-Nian Sheng, Rhydian Vaughan

1996, during the time of the tragic Taiwan baseball scandal, the story follows Yen and Tang and their gang of friends through the last year of their high school life. From chasing girls after school, midnight skinny dipping at the school pool to supporting their favorite baseball team, the China Times Eagles, they did everything together, with Yen being their leader. One night, because of an accident and the carelessness of the other boys, Yen falls into a coma and everything starts falling apart.

Erma's Wedding (Sydney China Film Festival 2009)

Erma, a beautiful Qiang girl, living in the mountain areas of Western China, was engaged to Duoba. Erma's family and wanted to have this wedding sorted and they hoped that Erma could marry their son as soon as possible but Erma always rejected the request because Erma had fallen in love with Liu Dachuan, an English teacher from the local town school.

www.yourmovies.com.au/movies/index.cfm?action=movie_info&title_id=37590