In recognition of the rising popularity of Chinese movies in the international market, Asia’s biggest film event — the 18th Tokyo International Film Festival — has invited Chinese veteran director Zhang Yimou to chair its jury panel.

The festival, running from Oct. 22 to 30, has attracted 551 movies from 64 countries and regions. Zhang’s latest production Lonely Ride over a Long Distance, which failed to get a showing at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival, was selected as the opening film.

Zhang is no stranger to the Tokyo film festival. In 1987, he earned the Best Actor Award for his performance in Old Well.

In a press conference held Friday in Tokyo, the organizer announced finalists for the first round, which included Luxemburg-Germany-Britain co-production Bye Bye Blackbird, U.S.-made Conversations with Other Women, German World War II story Die Hitlerkantate, Spanish-made Promedio Rojo, and Italian-entry 13 A Tavola.

The festival’s main venue will be Bunkamura, the largest multimedia and cross-cultural complex of its kind in Japan. During the nine-day event, more than 300 Japanese and international films will be screened in cinemas and theaters around Tokyo.

According to Japanese media, South Korean pop idol Lee Wan and Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho had been invited to attend the opening ceremony, as Lee stars in a festival finalist movie based on Coelho's bestseller Veronika Decide Morrer.

In addition to the fierce race for awards, the festival will also hold an entertaining event that focuses on cartoon, animation and electronic games at Akiba, the world-famous Tokyo electrical goods shopping area.

(Shenzhen Daily August 2, 2005)