Shanghai Cinema Comes to Liverpool

The 20th anniversary celebration recognising the twin status of the cities of Liverpool and Shanghai marks the launch of Shanghai Film Week's first film festival event. The city of Shanghai in partnership with Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Hope University and the UK-China Film Collaboration Project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, are hosting a unique and engaging film week in Liverpool from the 14th October and will run over four days. 

The week is specially curated by the Shanghai Art Film Federation, part of the Shanghai Film Distribution and Exhibition Association, aimed at giving Liverpool audiences the chance to experience four critically acclaimed Chinese-language films conveying many and diverse aspects of life in contemporary Chinese society.

“I very much look forward to presenting four Shanghai produced films to the audience in Liverpool this fall. Shanghai is the birthplace of Chinese cinema, apart from our historical film and cinema culture, we have also produced many high-quality films (both commercial and arthouse) in recent years. The development of Shanghai’s film industry is exciting and film enthusiasts from around the world will certainly want to pay attention.” - Jin Hui, Secretary-General, Shanghai Film Distribution and Exhibition Association

Screenings will take place at Liverpool Hope University and the local Everyman Cinema. The festival's launch on 14th October will begin with a formal reception and the next will feature a series of campus activities organised at the University.

“Liverpool is honoured to host the first Shanghai Film Week, celebrating the rich history, talent and culture steeped in Chinese film and cinema. We are a city that has always championed the arts and creativity. With the much appreciated support of the Liverpool China Partnership, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool Screen School and LJMU, we’re looking forward to a busy week of showcasing the very best in contemporary Chinese film culture." - Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Gary Millar

The films being shown (along with screening information) are as follows;

Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang (2016) 
Director: Kevin Macdonald 
15th October, 11.00
Venue: The Capstone Theatre, Creative Campus, Liverpool Hope University (free screening). This will be followed by a Campus Talk by Fang Xu, producer of Sky Ladder
at the Capstone Theatre, Creative Campus, Liverpool Hope University. Audiences will have a unique opportunity to hear first-hand about the making of the film.

From OSCAR and BAFTA winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald ('Whitney', 'The Last King of Scotland'), comes this acclaimed documentary tracing the rise of contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang from his childhood in Mao’s China to global art world superstar, and a lifelong obsession creating his greatest work of art to date.



Shakuhachi: One Sound One Life (2019) 
Director. Helen Yu
15th October, 14.30
Venue: The Capstone Theatre, Creative Campus, Liverpool Hope University (free screening). Dr Noel Brown, Senior Lecturer in Media and Communications will feature in a Q&A after the screening.

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.



Pegasus (2019) 
Director. Han Han 
15th October, 19.30
Venue: Everyman Cinema, Victoria Street (tickets required) 

This action-comedy smash hit stars one of China’s newest comedy talents, Shen Teng ('Goodbye Mr. Loser'). Zhang Chi daydreams about his fast-paced former life in the racing world ended by suspicions of illegal racing world, while tending to his fried rice stall, 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.




Old Beast (2017)
Director. Ziyang Zhou
16th October, 19.30 
Venue: Everyman Cinema, Victoria Street (tickets required) 

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, they 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?



For more information visit the UK China Film website. You can also book tickets through Eventbrite.