Four Shanghai produced films are coming to Liverpool this fall.
As part of Liverpool-Shanghai 20th Sister Cities Anniversary Celebration, Shanghai in partnership with Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Hope University, and the UK-China Film Collaboration Project funded by the AHRC, will host a film week in Liverpool, 14-17 October.
Specially curated by the Shanghai Art Film Federation, you will experience four recent Chinese-language films which represent different aspects of life in contemporary Chinese society.
The four screenings will take place at two different venues, Liverpool Hope University and Everyman Cinema.
Booking in advance is essential.
October 15 (Free screening)
Venue: The Capstone Theatre, Creative Campus, Liverpool Hope University, Shaw Street, L6 1HP
11:00: Sky Ladder: the Art of Cai Guo-Qiang (2016)
Dir: Kevin Macdonald | 1h 16m
From OSCAR and BAFTA winning director Kevin Macdonald (Whitney, The Last King of Scotland), this acclaimed documentary traces the rise of contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang from his childhood in Mao’s China to global art world superstar, and his quest to pursue his lifelong obsession creating his greatest work of art to date.
13:15: Campus Talk by Fang Xu, Producer of Sky Ladder
14:30: Shakuhachi: One Sound One life (2019)
Dir. Helen Yu | 1h 28m
This beautiful and stunning documentary tells the story of the shakuhachi, a famous Japanese bamboo-flute. It was originally introduced from China into Japan in the 7th century and underwent a resurgence in the early Edo period. The film showcases the lives of the shakuhachi performers, controllers and students in China, Japan and the United States
16:00: Q&As with Dr Noel Brown, Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication, Liverpool Hope University
October 15 (tickets required)
Venue: Everyman Cinema, 35 Victoria St, Whitechapel, Liverpool L1 6DA
19:30 – Screen 3: Pegasus (2019)
Dir. Han Han | 1h 50m
This action-comedy smash hit stars one of China’s newest comedy greats, Shen Teng (Goodbye Mr. Loser). Zhang Chi daydreams about his fast-paced former life in the racing world while tending to his fried rice stall, following a suspension for illegal racing. As he plots his long-awaited return to the track, he must overcome obstacles, take on a new generation of younger drivers and prove once and for all that he has what it takes to succeed.
This screening will be introduced by Matthew Hurst
October 16 (tickets required)
Venue: Everyman Cinema, 35 Victoria St, Whitechapel, Liverpool L1 6DA
19:30 – Screen 2: Old Beast (2017)
Dir. Ziyang Zhou | 1h 50m
Winner of “Best Actor” and “Best Director” at the prestigious China Film Director’s Guild Awards, Old Beast is a powerful and gritty family tragedy. Lao Yang is a broken old man who spends his days gambling and drinking. When he misappropriates his children’s money saved for his wife’s surgery, his children retaliate by holding him in custody, which he reacts to by taking them to court. In this moving, misguided struggle, will this family finally find peace?
This screening will be introduced by Matthew Hurst
Registration and booking is now open here.
You may continue the discussion via #ShanghaiFilmWeek on Twitter.
Acknowledgement: The two screenings take place at Everyman Cinema are co-funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the UK-China Film Collaboration Project.
