Jointly organised by the Motion Picture Association of America, the National Geographic Society and the China State Administration of Radio, Film & Television (SARFT), "China Film Festival 2006 USA" will run from April 17 to 22 in Washington DC.

 

The festival, which is supported by the Chinese Embassy, has been scheduled to coincide with the visit of China's President Hu Jintao and will showcase several recent Chinese films.

 

China's hottest star Zhang Ziyi will attend a press conference for the festival on April 17 at the Motion Picture Association of America in Washington, and will later attend a screening of House of Flying Daggers in Los Angeles on April 21.

 

"In honor of the visit of President Hu Jintao to our nation's capital, along with the celebration of the Chinese film industry's 100th anniversary in 2005, we thought it appropriate to provide a special forum to celebrate China's achievement in film," said Dan Glickman, MPAA Chairman and CEO. "We are pleased to partner with the National Geographic Society and the China SARFT in this endeavor and look forward to enjoying this exciting sampling of Chinese films."

 

"We applaud the idea of bringing the focus on Chinese culture through some of their most recent and exciting cinema," said John Fahey, CEO of National Geographic Society.

 

"On the occasion of the visit of President Hu Jintao, our partnership with the China SARFT and the MPAA for the China Film Festival allows us to help film audiences experience the diversity of China in a way that only the movies can do."

 

The China State Administration of Radio, Film & Television said "We believe that 'China Film Festival-2006 USA' will write a new and unique chapter in promoting understanding and friendship between our two peoples and strengthen the momentum of exchange amongst Chinese and US filmmakers"

 

Also on the Chinese Film Delegation to the US are Lu Chuan, director of the film Keke Xili and Ann Hu, director of the film The Beauty Remains.

 

Many recent Chinese films will be screened during the six-day event including Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2004), Beautiful Homeland (2004) and Shanghai Rumba (2005).

 

(CRI April 11, 2006)