China Celebrates Irish Film and Culture at the Shanghai and Beijing Film Festivals
A major celebration of Irish film in China will take place at the upcoming Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and Beijing International Movie Festival (BIMF) this month, supported by Culture Ireland and presented in association with IFI Reel Ireland and the Irish Film Board. The season of Irish work at the Shanghai International Film Festival will form part of an extensive Irish cultural programme which is taking place at EXPO 2010 Shanghai, which opened on 1st May and runs until 31st October 2010.A special programme of Irish contemporary and retrospective feature films including Five Minutes of Heaven, Once, The Secret of Kells, Michael Collins and My Left Foot along with a host of live action and animated shorts has been selected to screen at both festivals to spotlight Irish film and filmmaking talent. The programme of thirteen feature films includes a number of Asian premieres including Triage starring Colin Farrell.
Neil Jordan's Ondine and John Carney's Zonad have been nominated for the prestigious Golden Goblet Awards at SIFF which is Asia's equivalent of the Academy Awards. The two Irish films were selected from over 2,300 films from 81 countries and regions to be shortlisted with 14 other films for the awards. Other films shortlisted include Italian director Gabriele Muccino's Kiss Me Again, Canadian filmmaker Leo Pool's The Last Escape, Japanese director Masaru Shimomura's Partnersand two Chinese productions - Deep in the Clouds by Liu Jie and Ocean Heaven by Xue Xiaolu. This is the first time that an Irish film has been nominated for the accolade.
The 13th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) which takes place from 12th - 20th June is the only A category film festival in China and is due to attract over 300,000 cinemagoers this year. The Jury President of the Golden Goblet Award is veteran film director John Woo (Face/Off). Some of the Irish talent attending SIFF include Kieran Carney (director of Zonad), Andrew Lowe (producer of Zonad) and Simon Delaney who starred as Zonad in the film. Screenings of Zonad and Ondine will coincide with President Mary McAleese's visit to EXPO 2010 to mark Ireland's National Day on 17th June.
The Beijing International Movie Festival takes place from 7th- 30th June. It has been strongly supported by the Chinese central government since its creation in 2007 and is a key opportunity for Irish film to make an impact in the Chinese market.
Eugene Downes, Chief Executive of Culture Ireland, the state agency for the promotion of Irish arts abroad, commented: "This is a great opportunity for Chinese audiences in Beijing and Shanghai to connect with Irish film, and with Ireland."
Simon Perry, Chief Executive of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board said: ‘The inclusion of a programme of Irish cinema at these two major Chinese film festivals is tremendously gratifying. The promotion of Irish talent in this huge and vital market can yield significant dividends in terms of enterprise, trade and investment'.
Sarah Glennie, Director, Irish Film Institute said "The sheer breadth of Irish film presented within these important Festivals is testament to the growing interest in Irish culture in China. We are delighted to work with Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland to deliver this programme of quality Irish cinema through the IFI Reel Ireland touring cinema programme."
Box Promotions together with Accurate Group initiated the celebration of Irish film in China theme, and are responsible for on-the-ground event coordination in Shanghai and Beijing.