Chinese movies became the focus of the 25th Starz Encore Denver International Film Festival in Colorado of the United States, according to officials from China's State Film Bureau.
The 10-day festival ended on Sunday. All the Chinese movies, brought by a delegation from the State Film Bureau and screened during the "Encore International's Salute to Chinese Cinema" portion of the festival, were sold out. Many people were sitting in the aisles or standing at the backs of the theatres.
Prominent film director Chen Kaige, kicked-off the China Salute session with the US premiere of his new film, Heni Zaiyiqi (Together with You).
Chen received the festival's "Special Tribute Honour," which recognized his distinguished career and led to a showing of his earlier works, namely Farewell My Concubine and Yellow Earth.
Some of the other Chinese movies shown at the festival included Feng Xiaoning's Gada Meilin, Tian Zhuangzhuang's remake of Xiaocheng Zhichun (Spring in a Small Town), and Feng Xiaogang's Dawan (Big Shot's Funeral).
Chinese film buffs had heated discussions with Chinese film directors at the festival.
Each year the Starz Encore Denver International Film Festival provides local audiences with at least 120 international and independent films.
"The Denver film festival helps bridge the gap between the cultural experiences of the two countries through the medium of film. I believe that our joint effort will lead to a bright future of co-operation in the television and film industries," said Wu Ke, deputy director of the State Film Bureau who headed the delegation to the festival.
(China Daily October 24, 2002)
