Chinese filmmakers to walk the red carpet in Dubai today at Roxy Cinemas, City Walk, for the world premiere of ‘Chinese Captain’. The First China-UAE International Film and Television Forum will be hosted at Madinat Jumeriah tomorrow, September 30, 2019.
Hala China, the joint initiative by Meraas and Dubai Holding, are hosting the second China Film Week at Roxy Cinemas at City Walk and The Beach from September 29 to October 5.
Some of Chinese film’s biggest movie stars and directors are expected to fly in for the glamourous red-carpet opening night of the event today, September 29. High-profile executives heading to Dubai include Zhang Jizhong, acclaimed director known for film adaptations of classic Chinese “wuxia” literary texts Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Journey to the West; Tang Jili – popularly called Stanley Ton – known for his collaborations with Jackie Chan including Rumble in the Box, and Tian Yusheng, who brings his latest film, The Ex File 3: Return of the Exes, to Dubai for an exclusive screening.
And the film and TV stars touching down in Dubai for the prestigious opening night include Chen Jianbin, esteemed for his portrayal of Cao Cao in Zhang Jizhong’s Three Kingdoms; Jiang Qinqin, award-winning actress of My Sister’s Dictionary; Han Geng, lead actor in Tian Yusheng’s The Ex File 3: Return of the Exes; Zhang Lanxin, known for her breakout role in Chinese action-comedy CZ12; Clara Lee, Korean-American actress and model from Japanese movie Ask this of Rikyu, and He Hongshan, lead actress from Legend of the Phoenix.
What’s more, the worldwide premiere of Chinese Captain, the film adaption of the real-life events of the forced landing of Sichuan Airlines in 2018, will be screened here on the opening night of China Film Week in Dubai. It will be screen in China for the first time as well today.
This year’s China Film Week will also see the introduction of the first China-UAE Film and Television Forum on September 30 at Madinat Jumeriah, which includes an exhibition of more than 100 photographs that chronicle the Chinese film industry’s evolution over the last 70 years.
Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hala China, said: “Since Hala China launched this event last year, we have witnessed extraordinary levels of interest and collaboration between Dubai and China. Not only have we catalysed investments in new and emerging industries, but crucially, cultural exchanges have been taken to another level, as China Film Week is testament to.
He added: “As China’s film industry grows, so does the UAE’s. Together, there is much we can offer each other, with China’s film industry a model of homegrown success and the UAE’s world-class infrastructure, state-of-the-art production and post production facilities.”
Supported by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, China Film Administration and Dubai Film and TV commission, the 2019 China Film Week in Dubai takes place as the People’s Republic of China celebrates its 70th anniversary, as well as marking the 35th year since the UAE and China began a diplomatic relationship that has since flourished.
His Excellency Li Xuhang, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai, added: “With a positive response and wide acclaim, Chinese Film Week in Dubai has already played an essential role in cultural exchanges. This year, as part of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, the second edition of China Film Week reflects not only Dubai’s effort to promote friendship and cultural exchanges, but also the great potential and opportunities for cooperation between our two countries.”
Ten popular Chinese blockbusters will be screened throughout the week, including How Long will I love you, Hold your Hands, and The Photographer. In 2018, China’s cinema audience became the biggest in the world, and its unprecedented growth in the past decade has been driven by rising demand for quality entertainment. The films screening in Dubai for the week have been part of a huge, recent success in China’s film industry. It is currently valued at US$11.05 billion, according to projections from PricewaterhouseCoopers. And in 2020, China’s fast-growing sales at the box office will exceed that of the US by US$12.28 billion to US$11.93 billion.
China Film Week in Dubai is an integral part of Hala China’s broad ambition to attract the growing Chinese outbound traveller market to Dubai, including those travelling to the region during Golden Week. The Meraas-Dubai Holding initiative also aims to give the 250,000+ Chinese expats living in UAE reasons to feel at home.
Ten subtitled films will be screened during China Film Week in Dubai from September 29 to October 5.
