While pushing his latest war epic, The Assembly, to lead this year's New Year film releases, Chinese director Feng Xiaogang on Monday announced plans to mark the 10th year of such a genre in Chinese cinema.

Chinese film director, Feng Xiaogang, promotes his latest war epic The Assembly in this recent photo. Feng Xiaogang is planning a retrospective project, beginning next month, to publicly screen all of his New Year films since the first one Dream Factory, which was made in 1997.

The director said he is planning a retrospective project, beginning next month, to publicly screen all of his New Year films since the first one Dream Factory (Jia Fang Yi Fang), which was made in 1997.

The film, about four friends coming up with an unusual idea to make money, is regarded by Chinese critics as the beginning of New Year filmmaking, whereby directors make comedies to entertain moviegoers during the Chinese New Year holiday season.

Beginning with Dream Factory, Feng Xiaogang has tried to yield almost one film a year, most of which have become blockbusters.

Notable ones are Big Shot's Funeral (2001), Cell Phone (2003), A World Without Thieves (2004), and last year's The Banquet, which starred Zhang Ziyi.

Feng Xiaogang's latest offering, The Assembly, which premiered as the opener of the ongoing Pusan International Film Festival, is slated to hit Chinese theaters on December 20.
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(CRI.cn October 10, 2007)