Judges seeking truth and reality

Prior to the red carpet show and opening ceremony of the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival, the seven-member jury of the festival\'s Golden Goblet Award held a press conference to share their thoughts about cinematography and encouraging domestic and foreign cinema to reflect a multiplicity of global truths and realities.

The jury is chaired by Hollywood-based director John Woo. Members include Chinese film maker Wang Xiaoshuai, Israeli director Amos Gitai, French director Leos Carax, Japanese film maker Yojiro Takita, Chinese mainland actress Zhao Wei and American director, producer and scriptwriter Bill Guttentag.

This year\'s festival has drawn a record 2,327 entries from 81 countries and regions competing in various categories for a Golden Goblet. Sixteen films have been selected, including Italian director Gabriele Muccino\'s "Kiss Me Again," Canadian film maker Leo Pool\'s "The Last Escape" and two Chinese productions "Deep in the Clouds" by Liu Jie and "Ocean Heaven" by Xue Xiaolu.

"Though each of the nominees reflects different culture and art of the country, there is one thing in common: the human nature," said Woo. "That\'s why we say that film is actually a universal visual language."

The Chinese film market has boomed in recent years with growing box office revenue and an increasing number of theaters. However, in Woo\'s eyes, Chinese film making still needs more diversity and should develop towards multiplicity rather than singularity. He also advised people to give support and aid to China’s talented young film makers.

Popular Chinese actress Zhao Wei, who recently gave birth to a baby girl, is serving as a film festival juror for the first time.  "This annual film gala for movie buffs is becoming more and more international," she said. "For me it is also a good experience to learn after those top-notch film makers."

American director and scriptwriter Bill Guttentag was impressed by the rapid development of Chinese film industry, adding that today it is increasingly simple to make films in China.