- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Flipboard
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Tumblr
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
French director Luc Besson, whose sci-fi action-thriller Lucy was a huge hit in China last year, will chair the International Jury at the Beijing International Film Festival in April, organizers said.
He will chair the panel to award the Tiantan awards at the close of the fifth edition of the Beijing festival, which will take place April 16-23 in the Chinese capital.
The prize is handed out annually at the event in 10 categories: best feature, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, screenplay, cinematography, music and visual effects.
Read more ‘Lucy’: Film Review
Last year’s jury was headed by Hong Kong director John Woo. Richie Mehta‘s Siddarth took the best picture award, Wong Kar Wai‘s The Grandmaster won the best director prize and Zhang Ziyi won best actress. Guillaume Gouix won best actor for Attila Marcel.
The festival includes a large market, forums, exhibitions and a carnival.
China’s emergence as the world’s second-largest film market means the festival has attracted some big names in recent years. Last year it drew Paramount Pictures COO Frederick Huntsberry, Gravity director Alfonso Cuaron, Motion Picture Association of America president Christopher Dodd and Frozen producer Peter Del Vecho, among others.
Past festivals have been attended by James Cameron and Keanu Reeves.
Director Oliver Stone caused a stir at last year’s festival when he called on Chinese filmmakers to make movies that addressed controversial historical issues.
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day