The 18th Shanghai International Film Festival Raised its Curtain Last Night

□By Joyce Xu(Shanghai Daily)

The 18th Shanghai International Film Festival raised its curtain last night with a star-studded red carpet at the Shanghai Grand   Theater.

Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, Japanese film maker Shunji Iwai, Italian actress Maria Cucinotta and American former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson were among the near 400 celebrities attending the gala.

For the first time the festival will host a Jackie Chan Action Film Week. Chan told the fans that his film studio will be opened in the city in several months. His new war epic film Railroad Tigers will start shooting in October.

"During the festival, the action film week will include a forum on the future of Kung Fu films and an awards ceremony to honor remarkable film artists of the genre," said Chan.

Tyson, who will play a role in the third installment of Ip Man said hello in Chinese to local film buffs.

"It is an unbelievable experience for me to cooperate with Kung Fu star Donnie Yen in the film," Tyson said. "The film is great."

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the creation of the cinematograph and the 110th anniversary of cinema’s arrival in China. At the opening ceremony, celebrated Chinese American actress and producer Lisa Lu shared her memories about the film industry and her enthusiasm for film for 70 years.

"My affinity with film started when I was a young girl," Lu recalls. "I used to work as a foreign film interpreter at the Shanghai Grand Cinema. Time passing, my film dream never fades. It is a dream worth pursuing for a whole life."

Russian film maker Andrei Zvyagintsev, known for The Return and Leviathan, headed this year\'s jury panel for the Golden Goblet award. After expressing his gratitude at being asked to lead the jury, Zvyagintsev said that artistry is always his criteria for a film. "Art is of eternal values," he said. "Films with the highest artistry will excel in the competition."

A total of 14 films from various genres are vying for the Golden Goblet awards. The Shanghai International Film Festival will run till June 21st this year. Hong Kong film maker Derek Yee\'s I Am Somebody, a heartwarming film about the stories and dreams of extras in China was the festival\'s opening film.

图说
All the seven jury members are there on the stage. Pic by CFP