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“Black Snow” dates back to the time when the cinema of the People’s Republic, which had come to a virtual standstill due to the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and was barely noticeable internationally, was awakening from its deep sleep. Director Xie Fei, who was already 48 years old at the time of completion, is still considered one of the recognized greats today, not least because of his long-term work as a professor at the renowned Beijing Film Academy.

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In 1978, Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou were among the first to study at the newly reopened Beijing Film Academy. Both graduated in 1982, and Chen’s “Yellow Earth” (1984) marked the beginning of the triumph of the so-called Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers. The generations are easy to distinguish in that those of the Fifth Generation were born in the 1950s, those of the Sixth in the 1960s,...

It has been commonplace in academic circles to divide up and label Chinese filmmakers into generations that reflect socio-political currents as much as cinematic style.

Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou, who were educated at the end of the Cultural Revolution, are considered the leading lights of the “fifth generation.” The rebellious cluster that followed them, Zhang Yuan, Wang Xioashuai, Jia Zhangke and Lou Ye are among those labelled as “sixth generation.”

But with substantial bodies of work under their belts and international reputations already established, the sixth generation are no longer quite so new, nor so angry.

The four Chinese films selected for the main competition – all world premieres – at this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival represent a showcase of directors who are also known-quantities, but who are worthy of higher profiles. (The festival’s Asian Talent selection has a further selection of six more directors seeking to break through.

Chinese filmmaker Yang Feng is directing period-action drama The Coldest City, produced by Hena Film Culture Media. The stars Xia Yu (Breaking Through, A Little Red Flower), Lee Li-chun (Hello Mr. Billionaire, Goodbye Mr. Loser) and Tan Kai (Detective vs. Sleuths, Drug War).

Beijing-based Blossoms Entertainment is shopping The Coldest City to buyers in Cannes. It is among a somewhat shorter-than-usual list of Chinese commercial films on offer at the Marche du Film this year, as the Chinese industry continues to emerge from its pandemic-period isolation to re-engage with the global film business. The Coldest City will be released in China later this year.

The Coldest City is set in a frigid city of Northeast China in 1945, a turbulent period in Chinese history after the surrender of the Japanese army. In an unmanned city rampant with underworld forces, the story follows Gu Nian, a classic figure of the gunman who...

Mainland China has as many outstanding movies to offer as Hong Kong, even though they are sometimes overshadowed by international releases. Many people might not even know that China has one of the biggest movie scenes, with the six generations of talented filmmakers. Thanks to them, Chinese film culture is growing bigger. And better! Here are six outstanding Chinese films that cover all the basic genres. Expect nothing short of outstanding performances and director talent.

Red Sorghum (1987)

This is a classic example from the Golden Age of the Chinese cinema. It portrays the life of a Chinese peasant girl, who is supposed to get married to a leprous man. The film shows common hardships, associated with the Japanese military intervention in the 1930s. Red Sorghum is a true classic, which embraces unique Chinese film and visual culture. Here, historic themes are always relevant and popular. The cinematography is very bright and full of contrasts,...

Celina Jade, the breakout actress from “Wolf Warriors II,” is set as the star of Chinese big-budget tomb-raiding action film “Mojin X.” The film is a sequel to 2015 hit “Mojin: The Lost Legend.”

Directed by Li Yifan, “Mojin X” also stars Zhang Hanyu (“Assembly”) and Jiang Wu. Working through Saints Entertainment, the producer is Zhang Wang (also known as Er Yong). His other credits include the recent “Hidden Man” as well as award winners “The Postmodern Life of My Aunt,” “Peacock” and “In the Heat of the Sun.”

Jade, who has been singing and acting for over a decade, has enjoyed a career surge since last year’s “Warriors II,” which earned $850 million to become the highest-grossing film of all time in China.

Jade was last year named as an Asian Talent to Watch by Variety and the International Film Festival Macao. She is currently riding high as the star of “Hello Mrs.

U.S. producer David Permut and Japanese director Naomi Kawase have joined the jury for the upcoming Shanghai International Film Festival. The jury is to be headed by Chinese director and actor Jiang Wen.

Others joining the jury, which decides the festival’s Golden Goblety (Jin Jue) Awards, include Hungarian director Ildiko Enyedi, Turkish director-producer Semih Kaplanoglu, mainland Chinese actress Qin Hailu and Taiwan actor Chang Chen, who was recently on the jury in Cannes.

The festival boasts other connections with Cannes too. The Cannes Film Market party was this year sponsored by Siff. And Shanghai organizers claim to be stepping up co-operation with other major festivals around the world, led by Cannes.

The appointment of Jiang and the announcement of a “Sissi trilogy” to celebrate the 80th birthday of the late Romy Schneider, was announced in March. Others in the Classics section include 4K restored versions of several titles directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Chinese actor-director Jiang Wen will preside over the main competition jury at the upcoming Shanghai International Film Festival. The festival unveiled Jiang's appointment Monday, saying that additional jury members would be announced soon.

Jiang has been a pillar of the Chinese film industry since the 1980s. His international breakthrough as an actor came in 1987, thanks to his performance opposite Gong Li in Zhang Yimou's Red Sorghum, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. He made his directorial debut in 1993 with In the Heat of the Sun, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, winning its...

Following the announcement that came earlier this week, launching yet another hugely impressive line-up at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, the respective line-up has now been announced for what is in some ways its European counterpart, the 2013 Venice Film Festival.

The announcement shows that the two will continue to have a number of films overlapping, including Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity (the Opening Night Film in Venice), Peter Landesman’s Parkland, Stephen Frears’ Philomena, and more. But it also brings with its news of where a number of films will be making their debut, including Terry Gilliam’s The Zero Theorem; the latest film from Hayao Miyazaki, The Wind Rises; James Franco’s Child of God; Lee Sang-il’s Yurusarezaru Mono, the Japanese remake of Unforgiven; and Steven Knight’s Locke, led by Tom Hardy, and shot in one take.

In Competition

Es-Stouh – Merzak Alloucache (Algeria, France, 94’) L’Intrepido – Gianni Amelio (Italy,...

Italian actress Claudia Cardinale to be guest host for the section at the 70th Venice International Film Festival where William Friedkin will receive a lifetime achievement honour.

Claudia Cardinale, best known for roles in Once Upon a Time in the West and Fellini’s 8 ½, is to be the guest host of Venezia Classici, the section devoted to restored films and to documentaries about cinema of the 70th Venice International Film Festival (August 28 – September 7.

The section, introduced last year, features a selection of classic film restorations completed over the past year by film libraries, cultural institutions or production companies around the world.

Cardinale will attend the screening of Vaghe stelle dell’Orsa, Luchino Visconti’s 1965 film in which she starred that won the Golden Lion at the 30th Viff and has been restored by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

It is is one of the four classics restored this year that has been conserved at the Historic Archives of the...

BEIJING -- Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures took "a significant equity position" and will handle worldwide sales for mainland Chinese actor-director Jiang Wen's $10 million picture The Sun Also Rises, executives said Thursday.

Jiang's production company, Beijing Buyilehu Film Co., finished shooting last week in Beijing on his first film as a director since the controversial Cannes Grand Prix winner Devils On the Doorstep (2000), Emperor Motion Pictures said.

"Sun" stars Jiang, Anthony Wong, Jaycee Chan, Joan Chen, Zhou Yun and Kong Yishan. It is Jiang's third film as a director. Jiang co-wrote "Sun" with Guo Shixing and longtime collaborator Wang Shuping.

"We are absolutely delighted at finally concluding our negotiations," EMP chief executive Albert Lee said in a statement. "Jiang Wen is unquestionably one of the most brilliant Chinese filmmakers of his generation and, hopefully, 'The Sun Also Rises' will mark the first of many collaborations between us."

Jiang, 43, is perhaps best known outside China for his starring role opposite Gong Li in director Zhang Yimou's 1987 film Red Sorghum.

Jiang made his directing debut with In the Heat of the Sun, which won the Volpi Cup for its lead actor, Xia Yu, at the Venice International Film Festival in 1994.