Chinese director and actor Chen Kaige was today announced as the jury president for the Sydney Film Prize of the Sydney Film Festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
As the first international member of this jury, Chen’s latest film Sacrifice will also debut in Sydney on June 15 as part of the SFF.
Chen is perhaps most famous for his 1993 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’or winner Farewell My Concubine, but has also grabbed western attention with films The Emperor and the Assassin, the English language Killing Me Softly (with Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes) and the award-winning Together.
Festival director Claire Stewart commented: “We are delighted to welcome Chen Kaige as our 2011 jury president. Renowned for his opulent visual style and epic storytelling, Chen is one of China’s leading filmmakers and a director of high international standing,” she said. “His leadership brings more prominence and prestige to our event”.
Chen adds: “The ultimate pleasure of going to film festivals can be found in the opportunities they provide to watch new movies that stimulate our thinking and pondering,” said Chen. “Film festivals constantly transform the rules of filmmaking, expose us to new talent and present the ever changing horizon of world cinema.”
Earlier last month, the SFF announced a selection of titles from the Festival, including three films in competition Athina Rachel Tsangari’s Attenberg, Miranda July’s The Future and Tran Anh Hung’s adaptation of Norwegian Wood. They will be competing with 9 other films films for the AU$60,000 prize.
The full festival program is due to be announced 11 May 2011 at a public event in Sydney. We have already taken a look at the Sydney Film Festival – Preview on The Reel Bits.
The Sydney Film Festival runs from 8 – 19 June 2011 at various venues across the Sydney CBD.
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