Hey London! The Chinese Visual Festival Showcases The Best Of Contemporary Chinese Cinema

With China fast-becoming the world’s largest film market, Chinese Cinema has never been more relevant or in need of intelligent curatorship. With around 400 films released in China every year, it can be difficult to know where to begin, short of gravitating towards big-name populist masters like Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang.

 

Curious cineastes in London will be rewarded next month with the Chinese Visual Festival showcasing a fantastic range of contemporary Chinese language cinema, from the mainland, as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong and other indigenous regions like Tibet. A selection of this year’s line-up will be judged by an incredible jury that includes Hong Kong screenwriter Fung Chih-Chiang (Shaolin Soccer, Mermaid), Asian Film expert Jasper Sharp and industry professional Swani Yip.

 

Taking place from 11-20 May at King’s College London, BFI Southbank and Bertha DocHouse at Curzon Bloomsbury, highlights of this year’s events include spotlights on the work of Cao Fei and Yang Lina, including Opening Night screenings of their films La Town and Home Video; a showcase of the very best of new Taiwanese Cinema, including Panay, Zinnia Flower and Thanatos, Drunk; the best short films from the Hong Kong Fresh Wave Competition and much more besides - including the excellent Tibetan drama Tharlo (pictured).

 

With a number of filmmakers in attendance, events, Q&As and panel discussions, the China Visual Festival is a unique opportunity for British filmgoers to see an impressive range of Chinese cinema that - even here in Hong Kong - is simply not that easy to find.

 

For more details on the programme, ticketing, guests and more, visit the official website here.