Chinese film gets a boost from Britain

London's Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) was among the first to champion the new wave of Chinese cinema during the 1980s, promoting Yellow Earth and The Horse Thief. Other films to be shown in the season this year are The Old Barber, A Battle of Wits, The Forest Ranger, Three City Hotshots, Secret Trip and A Great Master Recaptured.

Spotlight Beijing is part of the third China in London season, the capital's biggest ever, which has seen some of London's most prestigious cultural institutions such as ICA, V&A, British Museum, Royal Academy of Music, Kew Gardens and the London Zoo put on more than 500 events from February to April.

Over 300,000 people are expected to participate in the events, which range from free Chinese Opera Workshops for children, Chinese tea tasting and modern opera performances, to the Spotlight Beijing film season, Chinese Elderly Art Group performing traditional Chinese cultural and martial arts.

During the China in London festival, the British Film Institute is showing films by Jia Zhangke, one of China's leading filmmakers. Beijing on Screen also comes to the Museum of Docklands and Harrow Arts Center in London.

(China Daily 04/15/2008 page19)