(2002/09/19)

On September 18th, 2002 China Film Festival was solemnly opened at Tokyo's Yuraku Chou, Asahi Guild Hall. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Dawei, celebrated film actress, managing director of Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association Kurihara Komaki, noted singing star Tanimura Shinji, noted actor Tanaka Lina, celebrities of various circles in Japan and journalists from mass media, over 150 in number, attended the opening ceremony. A 20-person Chinese Film Delegation headed by director of China State Administration of Radio, Film and Television Liu Jianzhong including well-known film director, Chen Kaige, movie stars Jiang Wenli and Taohong were present at the meeting.

At the opening ceremony, president of Japanese Operation Commission of China Film Festival and president of Japan Amika Planning Limited Company Yokohama Toyoyuki, and director of China State Administration of Radio, Film and Television Liu Jianzhong spoke respectively on behalf of the sponsors. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Dawei, deputy president of Japanese Operation Commission of 2002 Chinese Year and Japanese Year each spoke on behalf of the guests. Tanimura Shinji and Tanaka Lina spoke as specially invited guests and then Tanimura proposed a toast for the opening ceremony of the film festival. After the ceremony, a congratulatory cocktail party was held and a color feature film Treatment by Scraping screened.

The 2002 Chinese Film Festival was cosponsored by China State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and Japan Amika Planning Company Limited to mark the 30th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. During the four-day-long festival 30 Chinese-made films will be shown including the famous film director Chen Kaige's latest work, To be with You, seven feature films reflecting contemporary life of Chinese people such as Life Show, which was awarded three grand prizes of best film, best actress (Chen Hong) and best cameraman at Shanghai International Film Festival this year, and 23 others such as cartoons, documentaries, etc. It is the grandest Chinese film festival held in Japan.

From September 19th to 22nd, the 30 films included in Chinese Film Festival will be shown at Asahi Guild Cinema and Tokyo International Convention Center Cinema in turn.

Chinese Embassy in Japan backed the film festival. Zen Niiku Hotel Group, Matsushita Electric Appliances, Shougaakan and Kodak Company supported the festival.

By Shi Zeyi

(From Cultural Office of Chinese Embassy in Japan)