Six Chinese Films Screened in Kathmandu After Beijing Festival

Kathmandu. Six Chinese films that were selected and competed in the Beijing International Film Festival have been screened in Kathmandu. The program, under the Beijing International Film Festival promotion event 'Tiantan Award Panorama', was held for three days at Chhaya Center in Thamel.

The program was organized in collaboration with the China Film Administration, the Beijing International Film Festival Organizing Committee, and the Nepal Film and Cultural Foundation. Organizers claim that approximately 1400 viewers watched the 6 Chinese films shown in 9 shows over three days. They hope for the commercial screening of their favorite Chinese films of various genres in Nepal.

After this program, Foundation Chairman KP Pathak expressed his feeling that Chinese filmmakers have taken the Nepali market seriously.

He said, 'We are hopeful that an environment will be created for regular and commercial screening of Chinese films in Nepal, and Nepali films will be screened in the Chinese market through various means. Programs like these are the means to gain access to each other's markets in both countries.'

Zhou Pan, Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, delivered a speech at this program between China and Nepal. In his speech, Pan mentioned that film is the most vibrant medium of cultural exchange between the two countries.

On the first day of the program, Tuesday, the films 'Trapped', 'Beyond the Skies', and 'Summer Diary' were screened. On the second day, Wednesday, 'Summer Diary', 'The Shadowless Tower', and 'Journey to the West' were screened. On the final day, Thursday, 'Lost in the Stars', 'The Shadowless Tower', and 'Journey to the West' were screened.

On the first day of the program, director Sagar Zhang of 'The Trapped' interacted with Nepali audiences after the film screening. He informed that the film covers his adolescent memories. This film, made in the suspense crime genre, depicts the story of a gangster who wreaked havoc in the city a year before the gun ban in China in 1995, after escaping from prison. However, director Zhang stated that its story is entirely fictional.

The film 'Beyond the Skies', directed by Zhihai Liu, deals with the story of war. This film, made about an incident in the Chinese Civil War in 1935, presents the story of a brave young communist soldier who embarks on a mission to destroy the enemy's ammunition depot within 48 hours. The situation where the lives of 350 fellow soldiers are at risk makes the film interesting. 'Summer Diary', directed by Wu Shuang, is about the circumstances that develop and the changes in the life of a child living in the desert when he ventures into the city to find his mother.

The film 'The Shadowless Tower', directed by Zhang Lu, features a documentary filmmaker facing failure in the central role. The film presents the story of a documentary filmmaker experiencing failures in life amidst the shadows and light of Beijing city, and his encounter and closeness with a mysterious young woman.

The director of 'Journey to the West' is Dashang Kong. The lead actor in this film is an editor of a magazine. Although the magazine's standard has declined, he continues to search for aliens. In this situation, the film is based on the story of him becoming active again in the search for aliens after receiving a signal from space. This film provides entertainment with its comedic elements.

The film 'Lost in the Stars' is a suspense crime genre film. Its story is based on the real incident of a pregnant woman being pushed off a cliff in Thailand. A newlywed wife mysteriously disappears during her honeymoon. Everyone suspects her husband of murder. The incident of the wife, who was presumed dead, suddenly returning alive provides surprise. This film contains ample suspense elements.

This program was also supported by the Chinese Cultural Center in Kathmandu, as well as the Confucius Institutes of Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, and Lumbini Buddhist University.