Chinese director Zhang Yimou said he will direct a new promotional film for Beijing’s application for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday. [Sohu.com]

Chinese director Zhang Yimou said he will direct a new promotional film for Beijing’s application for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Zhang Bin, a TV host, first revealed that Zhang Yimou would be the director of the Olympic promo at the press conference for the "China Influence" Young Director Competition organized by China Movie Channel. Although the Olympic committee’s vote is only one year away, everything is going smoothly and is well-prepared.

Zhang Bin also hinted that if Beijing and Zhangjiakou, which are co-applying for the 2022 Winter Olympics, finally win the rights to hold the Games, Zhang will probably be director of the opening and closing ceremonies again. Zhang Yimou directed the spectacular opening ceremony of 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

Zhang Yimou later took the stage without denying Zhang Bin's revelations, saying he would love to find a young Chinese director to join his team and help him with the Olympic promo. "After that," Zhang said, "you may have an opportunity to direct a future blockbuster."

The Young Director Competition invited Zhang Yimou, kung fu star Jackie Chan and writer Wang Meng to mentor more than a hundred talented young directors recruited from all around China. "The director is the core of a film. We need the kind of creator who has the ability to tell a story," Zhang said of his expectations.

Ten directors will be finally shortlisted before going on to create their works in 100 days. The ten short films they make will premiere on China Movie Channel in early 2015. Audiences and experts will vote for the winner, which will be revealed in February, 2015.

As he exited the venue, Zhang Yimou declined to answer swarms of questions regarding his legal suit against his old friend and partner Zhang Weiping and his Beijing New Picture Film Co., Ltd. for a share of the company’s revenues. Zhang Yimou claims he is owed 15 million yuan (US$2.4 million). New Picture is known for producing Zhang Yimou's blockbusters, such as "Hero," "House of Flying Daggers" and "The Flowers of War."

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