Follow the festival online at www.madeinchinafilmfestival.com
Dublin’s ‘Made in China Film Festival’ (MICFF) kicked off last night in Swan Omniplex, Rathmines with the 2001 cult classic Beijing bicycle. The festival, which can be followed online as well as offline is presented by the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland, UCD and features a host of Irish premiers, screening a total of 12 films over 7 days catering to varying tastes.
Five online movies include Spring in a Small Town, voted by the Hong Kong Film Association as the greatest Chinese film of all time.
Speaking about the online festival, Michael Ussher, festival director explained that “Made in China online allows viewers to watch films on our website for free all throughout the festival and this year we present 6 feature films and 4 animation features showcasing the best in new Chinese animation talent.” Some screenings are limited and others will be streaming throughout the festival. All limited screenings can be booked on the trailer page and we’ll send you a unique link to the film page a few hours before the scheduled screening time. All films will have a unique chat box at the bottom of each page and audiences are encouraged to engage in discussion with fellow film viewers during or after the film.
The online festival is followed by the Swan Omniplex cinema screenings, kicking off on the 23rd September with Oceans Heaven. This engaging story, winner of best film, actor and new director at the Shanghai Movie Channel Media Awards, sees Jet Li break free from his action mould and take on the role of a devoted parent who must try to prepare his autistic son Dafu, now 21, for a life without him.
The festival has picked up some of China’s most popular blockbusters including Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, as well as the intriguing and humorous documentary Please vote for me, which explores how the concept of democracy could be received in China through the election of a class monitor in a primary school in Wuhan. The festival closes with The Piano in a Factory, the charming 2010 film that swept up awards at the Tokyo international film festival and the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. The film follows Steelworker Chen as he tries to win custody of his daughter, whose choice of parent balancing on whoever can provide her with a piano.
The MICFF aims to showcase what Chinese films have to offer the world of cinema. In the words of one Facebook fan, we want to “bring china to the centre stage!”. For more information on all of the programme listings, booking details and more, visit www.madeinchinafilmfestival.com