Film Festival\'s Star-studded Grand Opening Features Chinese and Foreign Celebrities

Cast of  Dangerous Liaisons



Cast of  The Last Supper



Cast of  CZ12



Cast of  Painted Skin: The Resurrection

Among them were Hollywood actor Aaron Eckhart, Dutch actress Famke Janssen, Korean heartthrob Ahn Chil-Hyun, Hong Kong China actor Chow Yun-fat, Taiwan China actress Lin Chi-ling, and mainland China actress Zhao Wei.

Eckhart, whose films include The Dark Knight and Thank You for Smoking, received a warm welcome from local fans. He said "hello" to movie buffs in Shanghai dialect.

"It is my second time in Shanghai," he said. "In 2010, I enjoyed my visit to the Shanghai World Expo. I\'m very excited and happy to attend this beautiful film festival."

The festival also attracted Hong Kong China actor Tony Leung who is promoting his new spy thriller Wind Seeker. Leung, famous for his charming eyes, plays a blind man in the film.

During the opening ceremony, Hollywood film producer Mike Medavoy, who was born in Shanghai, received the Outstanding Film Achievement Award. He said that Shanghai has roots for him. His parents lived in the city for 24 years and his dreams of filmmaking started here.

"My father told me this is the place that saved our lives," he added. "I\'m deeply appreciated. I\'ll come back and back again to fulfill my promise of working here."

Celebrated Chinese film director Wu Yigong earned the Lifetime Chinese Film Achievement Award. "Film is like a dream," Wu said. "It is accessible to everyone, telling people what the world used to be, and what life could be."

Outstanding Chinese Film Achievement Award went to Chow Yun-fat, who has starred in more than 70 films. Chow expressed his gratitude for both the film investors and audiences who supported him for many years. 

This year\'s jury panel for the Gold  Goblet  Award is chaired by famous French director Jean-Jacques Annaud who revealed that in the near future he will make a film in China.

 "Shanghai is an amazing place," Annaud said. "It is my first visit here. There are lots of exciting things to explore in this city."

Chinese supernatural fantasy film Painted Skin: The Resurrection which is loosely based on Pu Songling\'s mystery and thriller short stories was the festival\'s opening film.