The 15th Beijing International Film Festival has revealed that acclaimed Chinese director and actor Jiang Wen will preside over the Tiantian competition jury, with celebrated Chinese-American actor and filmmaker Joan Chen joining the panel.
The seven-member international jury brings together a cross-section of global film talent, including British director David Yates, Chinese actor Ni Ni, Finnish director Teemu Nikki, Swiss director and actor Vincent Perez, and Hong Kong art director Tim Yip.
Hungarian auteur Béla Tarr will lead the jury for the festival’s Forward Future strand.
The main competition lineup features a diverse slate of films vying for the award, including Hao Ming and Li Peiran’s “Better Me, Better You,” Li Yongyi’s “Deep in the Mountains” and Zhang Qi’s “Trapped,” all from China, and Emine Yildirim’s “Apollon by Day Athena by Night” (Turkey), Sora Hokimoto’s “Baus: The Ship’s Voyage Continues” (Japan), Maria Brendle’s “Frieda’s Case” (Switzerland), Tim Ellrich’s “In My Parents’ House” (Germany) and Lilja Ingolfsdottir’s “Loveable” (Norway).
Competition titles also include Tobias Schmutzler, Kevin Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine, and Vallentine Chelluget’s “Nawi: Dear Future Me” (Kenya-Germany), Sophie Deraspe’s “Shepherds” (Canada-France), Andrea Segre’s “The Great Ambition” (Italy-Belgium-Bulgaria), Ivan Fund’s “The Message” (Argentina-Spain-Uruguay), Charlie McDowell’s “The Summer Book” (Finland-U.K.-U.S.), Noëlle Bastin and Baptiste Bogaert’s “Vitrival – The Most Beautiful Village in the World” (Belgium), and Hadi Mohaghegh’s “Vortex” (Iran-Czech Republic).
The Tiantan Awards have 10 prizes, including best film, director, artistic contribution, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, screenplay, cinematography and music.
Organizers said that the awards attracted 1,794 entries from 103 countries and regions around the world, of which international films accounted for nearly 90%.
The festival takes place April 18-26.
