\"Star Hunter\" Identifies Future Chinese Talent

Seven talented young Chinese actors will be endorsed as future stars to attend world-famous festivals by winning the Shanghai International Film Festival\'s "Star Hunter" program.

More than 1,000 applicants, including amateur actors and professionals from around China, were attracted to the program. Judges will choose the most promising and talented from 20 finalists over the next few days of the festival.

The task will fall to Italian actress/producer Maria Cucinotta, Hong Kong China filmmaker Mabel Cheung and Vietnamese actress Tran Nu who are the judges.
"All the candidates have one thing in common-the dream," said Cucinotta. "With this program, we can help to turn their dreams into reality."

The judging criteria specify that the actors don\'t need to be good-looking, but they must have a unique charisma and should be able to work under pressure.

According to Tang Lijun, a Festival Organizing Committee officer, "Star Hunter" was inspired by the Berlin International Film Festival\'s "Shooting Star" program. The two programs will work together in getting Chinese actors onto the world stage.

"The film co-production trends in China will demand new skills of young Chinese actors, who should be adept at both acting and English." Tang said.