The Second New York Chinese Film Festival Opening

(Photo by Ken Lo)

By Alice Chin

Bao Qiang!” “Han Geng!” “Li Ming!!” Excited fans screamed out as popular Chinese celebrities stepped onto the red carpet outside Lincoln Center in New York City on Nov 8th Last night.

(Photo by Ken Lo)

The stars were in town for the 2nd New York Chinese Film Festival‘s opening night and ribbon cutting ceremony. Inside the majestic Avery Fisher Hall, a short clip was shown about the China Movie Channel, the international arm of CCTV-6, and the contributions they have made to the Chinese movie industry.

(Photo by Ken Lo)

Guest speakers included China Central Television Vice President and co-organizer of the festival Qi Jia, United Nations Ambassador, Consul General, and Chinese American Arts Council Leaders. They spoke universally about their hope that Chinese movies would serve to connect people and to strengthen the relationship between the United States and China by providing Americans a glimpse into the lives of Chinese people.

(Photo by Ken Lo)

Actors Leon Lai, Geng Han, Wang Baoqiang, Vivian Hsu, along with directors Xiaosong Gao, Ching Siu Tung, and Jie Han stepped on stage and voiced their support for the film festival. Leon Lai, one of the famed Hong Kong’s Four Heavenly Kings, spoke briefly and was presented with an award for his achievements.

(ALAN CHOW-Chairman of Chinese American Arts Council. Photo by Ken Lo)

Afterwards, a preview was shown of Leon Lai’s upcoming film White Vengeance (Chinese title 鴻門宴) which will be in theaters 2012. After the award was presented, the audience was shown the opening film ‘The Sorcerer & The White Snake’ directed by Ching Siu Tung, and starring Jet Li, Shengyi Huang, and Raymond Lam.

(Actor Baoqiang Wang, photo by Alice Chin)

(Actor/Singer Vivian Hsu, photo by Alice Chin)

(Actress Shengyi Huang, photo by Alice Chin)

(Director Xiaosong Gao, actor Geng Han. Photo by Alice Chin)

(Actor Leon Lai and his wife actress Gaile Lok. Photo by Alice Chin)

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