Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Natalie Portman among Shanghai Fest guests

Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Natalie Portman among Shanghai Fest guests

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Shanghai International Film Festival (14-22 June) looks set to be a starry affair. Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Hayden Christensen, and Korean superstar Rain (“Speed Racer”) will be on the festival’s red carpet on opening night, Variety said.

The festival also promises some 400 Chinese stars at the opening ceremony. They will be led off by John Woo, Jiang Wen, Jackie Chan, Chen Kun, Nicholas Tse, Li Bingbing, Gao Yuanyuan and Liu Shishi.

Natalie Portman, Kirsten Dunst will attend the closing event.

Joining top Chinese actress Gong Li on the main competition jury are the UK’s Sally Potter, Korean director Im Sangsoo (“The Housemaid”), Japanese director Shunji Iwai (“All About Lily Chou-Chou”), Chinese director Liu Jie (“Courthouse on Horseback,” “Deep In the Clouds”), Iran’s Payman Maadi (“About Elly” as actor, “Snow on the Pines” as director), and Denmark’s Lone Scherfig (“An Education,” “Italian For Beginners”.)

Kidman will grace the gala screening of “Grace of Monaco,” while Grant will accompany “The Rewrite.” Christensen will tub-thump Chinese co-produced period actioner “Outcast.” Rain and Chinese star Liu Yifei are forecast to promote their new picture “Difficult Love,” directed by China’s Gai Xixi.

The previously announced competition line-up will also throw up a further crop of big names including Ethan Hawke-starring “Predestination” directed by Michael and Peter Spierig; Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo-starrer “Begin Again” directed by John Carney; and “Only God Forgives” star Vithaya Pansringarm (pictured) in Tom Waller’s “The Last Executioner.”

The second-string New Talent competition features films including Iran’s “Angels Come Together,” “The Blue Bone,” (aka “Blue Sky Bones”) directed by veteran Chinese rocker Cui Jian; festival favourite Thai drama Concrete Clouds,” India’s “Dragon Fly” and “Homeland,” by Japanese director Nao Kubota.

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