Chinese film fans will have a rare, unprecedented opportunity to meet a group of major Hollywood stars next year in Beijing and Shanghai, on the 100th anniversary of China's film industry.

The stars, including top film director Oliver Stone and actor Dustin Hoffman and actress Angelina Jolie, will come for "The Beijing-Hollywood World Movie Masters Forum-2005," scheduled from February 20 through July 16, next year, the China Film Association and Amer-Asian Hollywood Entertainment Group announced.

So far, 24 Hollywood guests have signed contracts with the organizing committee, according to a recent press release. The invited speakers will give talks on acting, directing and producing.

Chinese officials from the State Administration of Radio and Television, Ministry of Culture, China Central Television (CCTV) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences will also attend the forum.

The organizers aim to make the forum an annual event, trying to draw more international heavyweights in the entertainment industry to come to China, said Kang Jianmin, Vice President of the China Filmmaker Association.

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2004)