Themed “Creating an Interesting Contrast”, this edition of the Film Festival will present around 30 films, animations, and short films from China (Macao included) and the Portuguese-speaking countries and regions, including new and selected works from famous directors in China and PSCs to create a series of heartfelt, fantastic and funny dialogues and exchanges. Also, a number of intriguing outreach activities, such as outdoor screenings, post-screening seminars, parent-child activities and workshops, will be held alongside the Film Festival stretched from the Macao Peninsula to Cotai. These will allow more audiences to feel the vitality of life, experience the sparkling collision brought by the cultural exchange between China and PSCs in the works, and unleash their humour and enthusiasm in life.
Opening Film - Escape from the 21st Century
The opening film is the Chinese comedy sci-fi film “Escape from the 21st Century”. Director Li Yang, who previously created the viral animated short Lee’s Adventure, this film marks his feature-length directorial debut, which he wrote and directed. Starring rising Mainland stars Zhang Ruoyun and Zhong Chuxi, the film blends elements of friendship, growth, cyberpunk, and time travel, grossing over a hundred million yuan at the box office. The film was also selected by the international community for the Midnight Madness section at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival. The movie combined the 2D animation style with scenic depictions of urban and rural China, giving audiences a glimpse into the vibrant creativity of the new generation of Chinese filmmakers.
Outdoor Screening - New Visual Forces in Macau
An outdoor screening set up in the Lai Chi Vun Shipyards area will feature four short films from this year's ‘Local View Power’. Amidst the coastal breeze, attendees will experience how local filmmakers use cinema to portray various aspects of Macau. The shorts to be screened include “Hand Hand” by Jarvis Xin, “Girl with Amen” by Teng Kun Hou, “Before the Downpour” by Mak Man Teng, and animation shorts “Inheritance” by Josie Ip .
Closing Films Presentations - Grand Tour
The closing film is the highly anticipated masterpiece of this year’s Portuguese-speaking film industry, “Grand Tour”, which won the 'Best Director Award' at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Shot in China and various Asian countries, the film features both black-and-white and vivid color visuals, coupled with Miguel Gomes’ subtle Portuguese humor. It poetically guides the audience through history and modern times, weaving between fiction and reality.
For more information about the screening sessions, films, talks, post-screening seminars and workshops, please stay tuned to the latest updates.
The 6th China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries Film Festival