The 8th Chinese Visual Festival (CVF) will be held in London 3rd – 6th May at BFI Southbank and King’s College London. This year’s Festival builds on the success of previous editions, bringing the very best in the cinema of the Chinese language speaking world to UK audiences in a programme of unprecedented variety crammed into one unmissable extended weekend.
2018 Festival Highlights Include:
- Festival opens with Zhou Ziyang’s award-winning Old Beast and closes with the UK Premiere of the Taiwanese LGBTQ hit Alifu, The Prince/ss
- 12 European and UK Premieres from the Chinese language speaking world, including the UK Premiere of Wang Bing’s award-winning documentary Mrs. Fang
- Guests include acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Cheung King-wai presenting the UK Premiere of his latest work Somewhere Beyond the Mist, Hong Kong Fresh Waves filmmakers, and more
- Special sessions focusing on LGBTQ cinema, including queer filmmaker Kit Hung in conversation
- Conference on Chinese and Sinophone Film Theory and Criticism
|
|
This year, CVF welcomes celebrated director Cheung King-wai from Hong Kong. Known for his documentaries The Taste of Youth and KJ: Music and Life and screenwriting credits including Ann Hui’s Night and Fog, Cheung will be presenting the UK Premiere of his fiction feature debut Somewhere Beyond the Mist, a stunning slow-burn crime masterpiece based on a shocking murder case. Starring Stephy Tang, who shreds her pop-princess image with a raw and mature performance, the film has won a series of awards and nominations, including multiple wins at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
|
|
|
|
Cheung King-wai's Somewhere Beyond the Mist
|
|
In CVF’s most varied edition yet, the impressive line-up of cutting edge films also includes the Opening Night Gala screening of Zhou Ziyang’s award-winning debut feature Old Beast, produced by director Wang Xiaoshuai (director of Beijing Bicycle). The film is a provocative picture of modern China torn by generational differences and a boom and bust economy told through the character of an old man in a desolate town, who spends his time lying, cheating and stealing.
|
|
|
|
CVF 2018 Opening Gala - Old Beast
|
|
Another highlight is the UK Premiere of the intimate documentary Mrs. Fang, winner of the Golden Leopard at Locarno and the latest film from Wang Bing, widely recognised as one of the most important and talented filmmakers and artists working in China.
|
|
|
|
Wang Bing's Mrs. Fang
|
|
Film screenings are complimented by a number of special events, including the conference Critical Voices; Critical Silences: Chinese and Sinophone Film Theory and Criticism at King’s College London, featuring prominent academics and noted film critic and Asian film expert Tony Rayns. The Festival also marks CVF’s third year in partnership with Hong Kong Fresh Wave, with emerging filmmakers visiting from Hong Kong for a screening of selected short films followed by a discussion with the filmmakers alongside industry experts as part of the BFI Southbank’s Future Film strand, aimed at aspiring filmmakers aged 16-25.
|
|
|
|
CVF 2018 Closing Gala - Alifu, the Prince/ss
|
|
CVF continues to champion Chinese language LGBTQ cinema through its Cinema Comrade programme by featuring as our Closing Night Gala the UK Premiere of Alifu, the Prince/ss, an entertaining and moving look at the diverse LGBTQ and ethnic faces of Taiwan through the story of Alifu, a young aboriginal man who works at a salon while dreaming of becoming a woman, pressured by his father to take on the mantle of tribal chief. Arriving at a vital time in LGBTQ rights in Asia and the wider world, the film is a stirring tale of love, equality and acceptance through the unique lens of Taiwan’s aboriginal culture.
Cinema Comrade this year also welcomes noted Hong Kong queer filmmaker Kit Hung, known for challenging gay representations and stereotypes. Hung will be presenting a special screening of his award-winning Soundless Wind Chime followed by a discussion about his career and influences.
|
|
|
|
Kit Hung - Soundless Wind Chime
|
|
Support for the Hong Kong programmes under CVF, including the visit of Cheung King-wai and Nicole Chan, comes courtesy of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London.
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: Chinese Visual Festival
Twitter: @CVF_London
Weibo: 华-语-视像艺术节
WeChat: 华语视像艺术节
#CVF2018
|
|
|
|
