New York, NY (October 18, 2011) Today, Chinese American Arts Council Executive Director, Alan Chow, announced, “The 2nd New York Chinese Film Festival, North America’s leading festival of Chinese cinema, will open on Tuesday, November 8th at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, with China’s current No. 1 blockbuster hit, The Sorcerer and the White Snake, starring Jet Li.“ Black-tie Red Carpet Opening Night Gala tickets are $25+.
According to the Venice Film Festival review in The Hollywood Reporter, “The Sorcerer and the White Snake a visually lavish epic fantasy that happily marries the latest advances in CGI and action techniques with ancient Chinese fable. The story of a woman demon who falls in love with a mortal will ring bells for Westerners as a charming variant on the Little Mermaid tale, though here the scaly mermaid is a huge, beautiful snake. With non-stop action to attract the lads, the tale is laced with enough overblown romanticism for ten chick flicks, yet chaste enough for children. Audiences with a taste for Chinese action spectaculars should enjoy this classy crossover from master Hong Kong director and action choreographer Tony Ching Siu-tung.”
China has the fastest growing film market in the world and is now the third largest film producer globally, after India and the United States. China’s film industry produced over 500 films in 2009, compared to just 100 in 2002. According to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, China’s box office receipts exceeded $1.6 billion in 2010, a 40 percent increase from the previous year’s $908 million, and a 700 percent increase from box-office receipts in 2005, about $230 million.
China’s billion plus revenue in 2010 is attributed to the success of Avatar and two Chinese blockbusters from China’s undisputed No. 1 director, Xiaogang Feng: Aftershockan action adventure epic story of a family separated as a result of the Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976, and If You Are the One 2a romantic comedy sequel starring You Ge, China’s No. 1 actor. Both films are showing in the 2011 New York Chinese Film Festival.
Co-presented by China Central Television Movie Channel (CCTV6) and Chinese American Arts Council, New York Chinese Film Festival, prides itself on offering American audiences the best and most current in Chinese cinema. The 2011 NYCFF lineup features 17 films and will run at AMC Village VII Theatre at 66 Third Avenuebetween 11th & 12th Streets on Wednesday, November 9th through Sunday, November 13th.
Five North American Premieres include: Sleepless Fashion (Devil Wears Prada-like) a comedy opening in China on October 21st, Perfect Baby a Sino-French urban romance, Hello! Mr. Tree an art-house black comedy, The Sorcerer and the White Snake, and One Wrong Step a new romantic comedy invested by Sony Pictures.
Two New York Premieres include: The Stool Pigeon an action thriller examines the fine line between cops and their undercover informants, and Little Big Soldieran action adventure comedy stars Jackie Chan.
My Kingdomis a martial arts drama, produced by Andre Morgan, an award-winning Hollywood producer Million Dollar Baby, who also introduced Hong Kong martial arts cinema to the world in 1973 with Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon. The Piano in a Factoryis aFull Monty without the stripping. Body Guards & Assassins, a pivotal action epic and winner of eight Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Film, features an hour-long battle sequence unlike anything attempted before.
China’s A-list Celebrity Directors and Actors will entertain New York audiences in Q&A sessions on November 9th and 11th after film screenings at AMC Village VII Theatre. The 2011 NYCFF Awards Reception is November 11th.
“Through the New York Chinese Film Festival’s Independent Filmmakers Forum,in partnership with the New York Film Academy, it is our hope at CCTV6 to give Chinese filmmakers from small to medium size art-house production companies the opportunity to screen their films in New York including The Mask Man, To My Wife, The Faithful Brothers, The Hearts Connect with String, and The Magnificent Martial Figure and meet with U.S. counterparts to discuss financing, marketing, and distribution channels,” said Qi Jia, vice president of CCTV6.
WELLGO USA Entertainment is a media sponsor. Tsingtao is the Official 2011 New York Chinese Film Festival Beer.
Sleepless Fashion
(China, 2011, North American Premiere, 90 minutes) Opening in China on October 21, 2011, a Devil Wears Prada-like comedy. Alan Tam, best selling 80s pop singer from Hong Kong plays Meryl Streep’s role.
One Wrong Step
(China, 2011, North American Premiere, 91 minutes) This Sony Pictures invested production opened on September 15, 2011, a surprise hit that beat out many big budget blockbusters. Anew Chinese romantic drama directed by Tao Jiang, this film stars Yi Sha as a young talented lawyer who chooses to help a woman in need (Qing Ye). However, this one act of decency triggers a series of mishaps that drastically alter his life.
The Sorcerer and the White Snake
(China, 2011, North America Premiere, 100 minutes) Opened in China on September 29, 2011. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Fantastic visuals and non-stop action make for a spectacular, romantic Chinese CGI feast.”
Perfect Baby
(China & France, 2011, North American Premiere, 92 minutes) Opened in China on August 25, 2011. In this Sino-French urban romance co-production a Chinese student in Paris gets himself involved in a love quadrangle when he unexpectedly becomes a dad after sperm donation.
Hello! Mr. Tree
(China, 2011, North American Premiere, 91 minutes) This Chinese black comedy is at once an elliptical, offbeat character study about a village idiot who might just be a prophet, and a subtle but sly commentary on rampant urbanization in China. Set in a northern China mining village, teased by hallucinations and haunted by tragic events from his past, Shu, struggles with an ever-loosening grip on reality. Can Shu see into the future? Is he actually just a basket case? Or is he perhaps more lucid than he seems, and pulling a fast one on everyone?
The Stool Pigeon
(Hong Kong, 2011, New York Premiere, 113 minutes) Nicolas Tse, awarded best actor for his role at the 2011 Hong Kong Film Festival, stars in this action drama thriller. “The Stool Pigeon” examines the fine line between cops and their undercover informants. His only redemption comes through betrayal.
Little Big Soldier
(China, 2010, New York Premiere, 96 minutes) Jackie Chan and Leehom Wang collaborate for the first time on the big screen in this action adventure comedy. Chan’s old soldier kidnaps Wang’s young general of an enemy state and takes him on a long journey to collect the reward.
Aftershock
(China, 2010, 139 minutes) Directed by Xiaogang Feng, this computer generated imagery action adventure is the epic story of a family separated as a result of the Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976.
If You Are the One 2
(China, 2010, 123 minutes) Directed by Xiaogang Feng, romantic comedy sequel continues the very odd love story between wealthy businessman/inventor Fen Qin, played by You Ge, China’s No. 1 actor, and airline hostess Xiaoxiao Liang played equally well by beautiful Qi Shu.
The Piano in a Factory
(China, 2010, 105 minutes) To fight for custody of his daughter who loves playing the piano, a steel factory worker embarks on a quest with his friends to build a piano. Spontaneous, often surreal, musical numbers, zany capers, and gorgeous shots lead us, in the end, to an unexpected ending. A Full Monty without the stripping.
My Kingdom
(China, 2011, 91 minutes) Directed by Xiaosong Gao, this action adventure of two sworn brothers and their relentless quest to regain their master’s honor in this epic sweeping story of love, honor and revenge is set against the backdrop of Chinese opera during its heyday in 1920s Shanghai. Playing lead roles are three of today’s hottest young idols in China: Chun Wu, Geng Han and Barbie Hsu. Xiaosong Gao is one of a new wave of young Chinese directors defining the next evolution of Chinese cinema.
Body Guards and Assassins
(China, 2010, 139 minutes) Donnie Yen (Blade II, IP Man, Hero) and MMA fighter Cung Le star in this gripping martial arts blockbuster set in the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong in 1905. Winner of eight Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Film, features an hour-long battle sequence unlike anything attempted before.
About Chinese American Arts Council
Chinese American Arts Council, a 501c3, was established in 1975 to meet the cultural needs of the expanding Chinese community in New York City. Today it is the largest Chinese American arts presentation and service organization in the Eastern US. It presents annual events at Lincoln Center, Chinatown and other locations throughout NYC and is recognized by state agencies as the arts liaison to the Chinese American community.
About China Central Television Movie Channel (CCTV6)
CCTV6 is the only national Movie Channel in China reaching 930 million people. China Movie Channel (CMC), CCTV6’s international arm, is part of The Great Wall Platform package, a bundle of Chinese language stations originating from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan and reaches 400,000 North American homes via satellite. CCTV6 produced the 2010 NY Chinese Film Festival Special with a record viewership of 130 million.
The 2nd New York Chinese Film Festival runs Tuesday, November 8th through Sunday, November 13th. For acomplete 2011 NYCFF schedule of events and to order discounted $6.00 movie tickets for AMC Village VII Theatre and $25 tickets for Lincoln Center’s black-tie Red Carpet Opening Night Gala visit www.nycff.org/en
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