NYTimes: Mining Taiwan's Darker History (Prince of Tears)

The project originated with the real-life story of the actress Chiao Chiao, a longtime friend and collaborator of Yonfan, whom she met in Hong Kong when she was a starlet there from the ’60s to the ’80s.

THR: Chan talks role in Jia's 'Duck'
Jackie Chan is in talks to play a role in “Flying Duck,” a US$5 million comic road movie produced by award-winning director and festival favorite Jia Zhangke, under his production company X Stream Pictures, Jia said in Pusan...Filming will begin in November for a six-month shoot in Beijing, Chongqing, Sichuan, Hainan Island, and Busan.

Guo Xiaodong

Guo Xiaodong, Jiang Yiyan - Qiu Xi/Happy Autumn (cri.cn)

Hangzhou preview audience reaction to the spy drama is that it's not as big as The Message but still very positive. (cri.cn)

Qiu Xi - Promotion Photos

Sun Chun, Jiang Yiyan, Guo Xiaodong

Jiang Yiyan, Guo Xiaodong

Sun Chun, Guo Xiaodong

Qiu Xi, Happy Autumn/Autumn Happiness spy drama begins publicity tour. (Sina.com)

Zhang Jizhong's Pigsy Grabs Public Attention
New Journey To West TV series

Johnnie To

Johnnie To held a Master Class titled, My Life, My Cinema at the PIFF (Sina.com)

First Look at Peter Ho's "Once Upon a Time in Tibet"

Slide shows

Qiu Xi cast

Guo Xiaodong, Jiang Yiyan, Sun Chun

Qui Xi stills

Yao Di (Three Smiles)

Qiu Xi - Posters

(cri.cn)

Jiang Yiyan (City of Life and Death)

New Spy Thriller 'Qiuxi' [previously 'Happy Autumn' here]
Check out the stills from the Chinese espionage film "Qiuxi", directed by Sun Zhou...

Jiang Yiyan, Guo Xiaodong

Related cast photos

The romantic spy thriller "Qiu Xi" by director Sun Zhou will hit cinemas on the mainland in mid-October, according to sina.com reports.

The story takes place in wartime Guangzhou before the country's liberation by the Communist Party of China in 1949. A young woman named Qiu Xi is a "boat person", or Tanka, living in the coastal area of Guangdong Province.

Qiu Xi, played by actress Jiang Yiyan, becomes a servant to Yan Haiqing, played by actor Guo Xiaodong. She finds herself falling for the undercover communist agent who works with the Kuomintang regime that ruled China until 1949. The story unfolds as the two fall for each other but are kept at distance because of the wartime situation.

"Qiu Xi" is what the Tankas used to call their daughters before they got married. It literally means "the joy of autumn," and in the film it suggests the impending success of the liberation in October 1949.

The 45-million-yuan (US $6.5 mln) film comes several years after Sun Zhou's widely acclaimed movies "Zhou Yu's Train" in 2002 and "Breaking the Silence" in 2000, both starring actress Gong Li. Although Zhou is not a prolific director, his films are known for their exploration of humanity and the genuinely virtuous nature of people.

"Qiu Xi" is slated for a public release on October 14, 2009. (cri.cn)

Spy drama Happy Autumn(?) set in 1949 Guangzhou features Guo Xiaodong and Sun Chun, opens Oct.14. (cri.cn)

Guo Xiaodong

Sun Chun, Guo Xiaodong (Sina.com)

The Message has been on whirlwind media tour around the country. At one enthusiastic meeting with fans Huayi Brothers CEO Wang Zhonglei has promised that if The Message broke $300M at the box office he would release a 3 hour DVD version! The theatrical version runs 122 minutes. According to reports, the footage shot for the Li Bingbing-Huang Xiaoming 'medical checkup' scene is almost equal to that alone. (cri.cn)

(Sina.com)

Fan Bingbing

Huang Jue

Du Jiayi

Director He Ping

Wheat arrives in Beijing (Sina.com)

Huang Jue Exposed in 'Wheat'

Known for his relationship with actress-director Xu Jinglei, actor Huang Jue has stepped out of his comfort zone to reveal his true colors in the film "The Wheat".

"The Wheat" tells the story of two Qin soldiers fleeing from war and taking refuge in the small town of Zhao, where all of the adult men of the village have gone to war. To survive, the fugitives change their identities into Zhao soldiers who had won the battle against Qin.

Rene Liu, Jacky Cheung

With production moving from Beijing to Shenzhen, Jacky Cheung and Rene Liu were in Shenzhen to promote their upcoming New Year's/Valentine's Day film Hot Summer Day (formerly Yit Lat Lat). The film is a Huayi Brothers and Fox joint venture. The stellar cast will include Nic Tse, Daniel Wu, Barbie Hsu, Vivian Hsu, and Duan Yihong. When Jacky was asked about the difference between Rene and his recent costar Tang Wei (Crossing Hennessy), he replied that Rene was more experienced and Tang Wei needed more time as she was still new. (Xinhuanet.com)

Visitors From The Sui Dyansty from director Zhang Yuxin (Teeth of Love) features time travellers in this new comedy.  Trailer (Sina.com)

3D 'Deer' Premieres

"The King of Milu Deer", which claims to be China's first animated 3D blockbuster, premiered on Saturday in Beijing.

Chow Yun-Fat 'Dancing with Strangers'
Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat's next film will be a Spanish-American-German-Chinese cooperation, Screendaily.com reports.

Huang Xiaolei

Da Zhang Wei

Director Liang Chao

Royal Tattoo red carpet photos (Sina.com)

Astroboy opens Oct.23

Astroboy mosaic made of 138,000 recycled subway tickets on display in a Shinjuku department store. (Sina.com)

China picks 'Forever Enthralled' for Oscars

Emperor hires Ivy Ho for marketing
Former HKIFF awards director joins after 15 years in industry