The annual Shanghai International Film Festival kicked off on Saturday with a line up of movies and an international panel of judges. 　　

 

Hugh Jackman, Jackie Chan, Andie Macdowell and Ang Lee led the stars down the red carpet to the Shanghai Music Hall on the opening night of the ninth Shanghai International Film Festival. 　　

 

This year's festival promises to be bigger and brighter than ever before, with a panel of international judges chaired by French director Luc Besson, as well as world-renowned actors. 　　

 

Tang Lijun, Vice Chairman of the Festival's Organizing Committee, says it's all due to the rapid growth in China's film industry. 　　

 

"Why do so many foreign movie celebrities want to participate in our festival this year? On one hand, it's because they like Shanghai. On the other hand, they now can see the Chinese films across the world and they hope to make their market bigger through Shanghai international film festival." 　　

 

Tang Lijun says this year's festival has more movies to show to Shanghai residents. 　　

 

A record 746 films were registered for this year's competition, a 50 percent increase over last year. 　　

 

The organizer says they want to get more of the public involved, as well as promote the festival's international identity.

 

"The Shanghai International Film Festival cannot compare with the Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival in terms of the historic background and accumulated recourses. But China as the host country has always put the public as top priority."

 

This year audiences can buy different types of tickets by booking them through the internet but many fans are still queuing before the box office to buy their tickets the old-fashioned way. 　　

 

"There are many movies that will not be shown outside the festival." 　

 

"I always look forward to the annual film festival, because it freshens up my life." 　　

 

Festival organizers have worked with a travel agency to set up a special film festival tour in the hope of attracting movie buffs from neighboring provinces. 　　

 

Ren Zhonglun, president of Shanghai Film Group Corporation, says the festival has so far enjoyed a box office of over US$580 thousand. 　　

 

The week long event made more than US$880 thousand at the box office last year.

 

(CRI June 20, 2006)