HONG KONG – The Shanghai International Film Festival (14-22 June) looks set to be a starry affair.
Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Hayden Christensen, and Korean superstar Rain (“Speed Racer”) will be on the festival’s red carpet on opening night.
The festival also promises some 400 Chinese stars at the opening ceremony. They will be led off by John Woo, Jiang Wen, Jackie Chan, Chen Kun, Nicholas Tse, Li Bingbing, Gao Yuanyuan and Liu Shishi.
Natalie Portman, Kirsten Dunst will attend the closing event.
Joining top Chinese actress Gong Li on the main competition jury are the UK’s Sally Potter, Korean director Im Sangsoo (“The Housemaid”), Japanese director Shunji Iwai (“All About Lily Chou-Chou”), Chinese director Liu Jie (“Courthouse on Horseback,” “Deep In the Clouds”), Iran’s Payman Maadi (“About Elly” as actor, “Snow on the Pines” as director), and Denmark’s Lone Scherfig (“An Education,” “Italian For Beginners”.)
Kidman will grace the gala screening of “Grace of Monaco,” while Grant will accompany “The Rewrite.” Christensen will tub-thump Chinese co-produced period actioner “Outcast.” Rain and Chinese star Liu Yifei are forecast to promote their new picture “Difficult Love,” directed by China’s Gai Xixi.
The previously announced competition line-up will also throw up a further crop of big names including Ethan Hawke-starring “Predestination” directed by Michael and Peter Spierig; Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo-starrer “Begin Again” directed by John Carney; and “Only God Forgives” star Vithaya Pansringarm (pictured) in Tom Waller’s “The Last Executioner.”
The second-string New Talent competition features films including Iran’s “Angels Come Together,” “The Blue Bone,” (aka “Blue Sky Bones”) directed by veteran Chinese rocker Cui Jian; festival favourite Thai drama Concrete Clouds,” India’s “Dragon Fly” and “Homeland,” by Japanese director Nao Kubota.
2014 Shanghai Golden Goblet Competition line-up (incomplete)
“Ant Story,” dir. Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (Bangladesh)
“Begin Again,” dir. John Carney (U.S.)
“Diplomatie,” dir. Volker Schloendorff (Ger.)
“The Last Executioner,” dir. Tom Waller (Thailand)
“Mikra Anglia,” dir. Pantelis Voulgaris (Greece)
“Maiko wa Lady,” dir. Masayuki Suo (Japan)
“Predestination,” dirs. Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig (Australia)
“Elle l’Adore,” dir. Jeanne Herry (France)
“Snow,” dir. Mehdi Rahmani (Iran)
“The Uncle Victory,” dir. Zhang Meng (China)
“The Woods Are Still Green,” dir. Marko Nabersnik (Germany)
2014 Shanghai New Talent Award line-up
“10 Minutes,” dir. Yong-seung Lee (South Korea)
“Angels Come Together,” dir. Hamid Mohammad (Iran)
“The Blue Bone,” dir. Cui Jian (China)
“Concrete Clouds,” dir. Lee Chatametikool (Thailand, Hong Kong)
“Dragon Fly” (“Phoring”), dir. Indranil Roychowdhury (India)
“Homeland,” dir. Nao Kubota (Japan)
“I’m Not Angry!” Dir. Reza Dormishian (Iran)
“No Smoking,” dirs. Dong Xinwen, Wu Gang (China)
“The Tale of Iya,” dir. Tetsuichiro Tsuta (Japan)
