Toronto Mediatheque
Thanks to the Film Bureau of State Administration of Radio, Film & Television of China, the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), everyone can enjoy, for free, Canadian premieres of award-winning Chinese films to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and China.
FREE at the NFB Toronto Mediatheque! All films screened in their original versions, subtitled in English.
Here is the schedule and info of the free films at the NFB Toronto Mediatheque:
Friday, October 8, 6:30 p.m.
Forever Enthralled
2008, Chen Kaige
This epic biopic of famed Chinese opera singer Mei Lanfang, starring Zhang Ziyi and Masanobu Ando, won Best Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in 2009, and won accolades for newcomer Shaoqun Yu and supporting actor Xueqi Wang.
Saturday, October 9, 1 p.m.
The Dream of Jinsha (animated) CANADIAN PREMIERE
2010
Middle-school student Xiao Long accidentally travels back in time to an ancient Chinese kingdom, 3,500 years ago. This is where his uncanny adventure begins.
Screening with the NFB animated film The Friends of Kwan Ming.
Saturday, October 9, 3 p.m.
Walking to School – CANADIAN PREMIERE
2009, Peng Jiahuang and Peng Cheng
The Lisu tribe, which dwells in the heart of Yunnan’s Gongshan Mountains, has a unique method of transportation: Children must slide across the Nujiang Gorge on a hook in order to attend the village school. Wawa (Ding Jiali) is deemed too young and thus is forbidden to join his older sister Naxiang at school. However, he is so desperate to learn that he secretly follows her anyway in order to eavesdrop on her lessons – but his defiance has serious consequences.
Screening with the NFB animated film The Chinese Violin.
Saturday, October 9, 7 p.m.
Confucius
2010, Mei Hu
This epic historical drama, starring Chinese star Chow Yun-Fat, focuses on Confucius’ transformation from an ordinary bookkeeper to a philosopher and sage, and the journey he made to spread his thinking around the then warring kingdoms of northern China.
Screening with the NFB film Roses Sing on New Snow.
Tuesday, October 12, 7 p.m.
Bodyguards and Assassins
2009, Teddy Chen
Hong Kong, 1905 – Before Dr. Sun Yat-Sen can become the Father of Modern China by instigating the revolution of 1911 that ultimately overthrows the Qing Dynasty, his life is almost cut short when he arrives in Hong Kong for a secret meeting to establish a united anti-Qing revolutionary front. Over a distance of just 13 city blocks, the one man who holds a nation’s fate must survive relentless attempts on his life, accompanied by only five bodyguards – a group of ordinary men and women who possess extraordinary fighting skills.
Wednesday, October 13, 7 p.m.
Go Lala Go! – CANADIAN PREMIERE
2010, Xu Jinglei
Genius is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration. That is the case for Du Lala, who begins her career in a Global Top 500 company as a humble receptionist. Lala deals with pressure and frustration with a positive attitude in her climb to the top.
Screening with the NFB film The Chinese Violin.
Wednesday, October 13, 9 p.m.
The Message
2009, Chen Kuo-Fu and Gao Qunshu
Nanking, 1942 – Following a series of assassination attempts on officials of the Japanese-controlled government, the Japanese spy chief gathers a group of suspects in a mansion for questioning. A tense game of cat and mouse ensues as a Chinese code-breaker attempts to send out a crucial message while protecting his own identity.
Screening with the NFB film Fragrant Light.
Contact Info:
NFB Toronto Mediatheque
150 John Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3C3
416-973-3012
Happy Anniversary!