some updates

- A review on Directors Lounge 2007 written by Klaus W. Eisenlohr can be read on Rich Film site (with pics too).

- A review on the special programme of Chinese documentaries proposed by Fragments at The Festival of Asian Cinema of Tours can be found on the blog (in French, written by Delphine).

- "Fragments" presents Outside a documentary by Wang Wo in Nantes (France) on Tuesday 17th. The film was presented at Directors Lounge 2007 (Focus on China Doc) and at The Festival of Asian Cinema of Tours.
More here.
The film shows scenes of daily life in the streets of Beijing that were taken between 2001 and 2005. Thanks to their combination, these trivial scenes constitute an accute observation on the urban Chinese society today, the city, its organization and its development, its implications and the consequences of the social-economic mutations of China, but also the everyday life of ordinary people, the left-side, the migratory workers, the passer-bys, the individuals...

A review on the film will be soon online.

HK Inter. Film Festival - Results of the Winners

The awards... Concerning the Asian awards, it seems to be the same ones that got them !

The 2nd Fresh Wave Short Film Competition
Grand Prize, “Merry X’mas” / Directed by Jevons Au

Signis Award
Winner, “The Italian” / Directed by Andrei Kravchuk from Russia
Special Mention, “Fresh Air” / Directed by Andrei Kravchuk from Hungary
and “The Island” / Directed by Pavel Lounguine from Russia

FIRPRESCI Winner
“Betelnut” Directed by Yang Heng from China

Humanitarian Awards for Documentary
Humanitarian Award for Best Documentary
“Nanking” Directed by Bill Gunttetag and Dan Sturman from USA

Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Documentary
“Potosi, The Journey” Directed by Ron Havilio from Israel/France

The Asian Digital Competition
Golden Digital Award
“Love Conquers All” Directed by Tan Chui-mui from Malaysia

Silver Digital Award
“Betelnut” Directed by Yang Heng from China

New Jia Zhangke's project

Jia Zhangke has announced his next project - TWENTY FOUR CITY, at a press conference 1st April.
It will focus on the stories three generations of women workers during the rise and fall of a state-run factory, to show how the life of many Chinese cities and city residents life have changed since the 1960s.
Jia said he has the idea of making a movie about a factory for many years. The factory he picked is a plane engine manufacturer called Factory 420 located in Chengdu of southwestern China . In 2005, real estate developer CR Land purchased the land the factory was built on. The factory buildings are about to be demolished, workers and their relatives who live on the factory land are about to be relocated, and a series of apartment buildings, named "24 City" is about to be built.
Simultaneously, Jia will also shoot a 200 - 260 minute long documentary titled The Story of 24 City (literal title) to record the whole process. CR Land is producing the project, along with Shanghai Film Group and Jia Zhangke's Hong Kong-based Xinghui Production Company.
Twenty-Four City is also the first movie Jia did not write alone. His writing partner is Zhai Yongming, a woman poet from Chengdu. Jia is now finalizing the script and looking for actresses to play the three workers.
He also admitted that he needed more time to prepare for both The Age of Tattoo and Shuang Xiong Hui and works on these two projects would not start until the end of this year. Shooting of both would be completed by next January.

from monkey peaches