John Woo to Chair the Jury panel of SIFF’s Golden Goblet Award

Veteran film director John Woo will be the Jury President of Golden Goblet Award, the main competition of the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival.The festival will be held from June 12th to June 20^th, 2010. 

As the only A category film festival in China, the Shanghai International Film Festival has long been sparing no efforts to invite film celebrities to serve on the jury panel.  Some of those invited to be the President in recent years include Luc Besson, Danny Boyle, Wong Karwai, Chen Kaige, etc. Among those who enjoy worldwide fame, many have been instrumental in promoting status and influence of Shanghai International Film Festival internationally. John Woo, who has attended the festival several times as an honored guest, was presented with Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Cinema in the SIFF 2009. And SIFF is happy to announce that when Woo was approached with the invitation, he accepted with pleasure and without hesitation. Woo said “It’s a very new experience for me to be the Jury President, and it is a real challenge. Based on my great love to Shanghai and deep interest in China\'s movie industry, I look forward to coming to the festival, getting acquainted with talents in the industry, with artists from all over the world, and movie lovers. I love to communicate with young people, and to enjoy the spirit of Shanghai Expo. Shanghai International Film Festival has contributed to the world as a spotlighting stage to present diversity of cultures. I feel honored to take part in it." 

The 54-year-old director was born in Guangzhou and moved to Hong Kong with his parents. Soon after his graduation from junior high school, his father died and his family was in poverty. Woo, who was fond of watching movies in his junior high school, entered the Shaw Brothers in 1971 and became a student of the famous action movie director Che Chang. In his early years as a director, Woo mainly focused on low budget comedies. The film A BETTER TOMORROW in 1986 formed his own film style specializing in ultra-violent gangster films and thrillers and it was regarded as the turning point in his career. In the 1990s, Woo was invited to Hollywood, where he directed movies including Hard Target, Face/Off, Mission: Impossible 2. He received great reviews, which established his international status. In 2002, Woo joined a list of many other famous directors and celebrities and left his name on the Star Avenue at the front of the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, becoming the first Chinese director to have his name on the Hollywood street. In 2007, Woo made his return to China directing the outstanding 2-part film, Red Cliff, It also made the unprecedented achievement of 600 million at the box office of mainland China and broke records in Japan in the imported films category. 

Ms Tang Lijun, Managing Director of Shanghai International Festival said, “Woo is a legend in China\'s industry, as well as being treated as a master in western countries. His movies have created a brand new vision of art. He is respected by the public not only in Asia, but also in Hollywood. Woo has changed the status of Hong Kong films in the world, and made Hollywood see the abilities of Chinese movie makers. The Shanghai International Film Festival is honored to invite Woo to be the Jury President of Golden Goblet Award.”