Director John Woo (center) and cast members promote "Red Cliff" in Tokyo on August 6, 2008. [China News Service]

John Woo's lucrative historical epic "Red Cliff" will open this year's Tokyo International Film Festival, Chinese media reported.

The news was announced at a press conference on Wednesday in Tokyo, where Woo and leading cast members were promoting the film, China News Service reported.

The 21st Tokyo International Film Festival will run from October 18 to 26.

"Red Cliff," based on a Chinese water battle in 208 AD, features a star-heavy cast, including Japanese actor Shido Nakamura and Takeshi Kaneshiro, who is half Japanese, half Chinese.

The film will officially open in Japan on November 1.

(CRI August 8, 2008)