Chinese director Zhang Yimou's martial arts films Curse of the Golden Flower and Feng Xiaogang's The Banquet are the two hottest movies in China this year to receive nominations for the Best Foreign Film Award at the 79th Academy Awards. 　　

 

The movies pit the two lead actresses, Gong Li of Curse of the Golden Flower and Zhang Ziyi of The Banquet, up against each other. 　　

 

Zhang Ziyi will promote her film The Banquet at this year's Venice Film Festival along with cast members Ge You and Zhou Xun. The film will premiere in China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan on September 15th. 　　

 

Curse of the Golden Flower is scheduled to hit cinemas during the Christmas season. 　　

 

The Academy Award nominations will be announced in January and the 79th Awards ceremony will be held on February 25, 2007. 　

 

(CRI July 3, 2006)