Chris Dodd, Alfonso Cuaron To Attend Beijing Festival

Senator Chris Dodd, chairman of the Motion Picture Association, and “Gravity” director Alfonso Cuaron (pictured), will travel to China next month to take part in the Beijing International Film Festival (April 16-23, 2014).
 
They are expected to be prominent speakers at a forum on co-production, being organized by the festival on April 17.
 
Also attending will be Frederick Huntsberry, COO of Paramount Pictures and director Oliver Stone. Both are regular visitors to the region.
 
Festival organizers say that the seminar will “look into the development situation of China’s film industry from the perspective of the development of the global film industry, push forward all-round film cooperation between China and the rest of the world, and promote the globalization of Chinese films.”
 
The past month has seen a succession of corporate co-operation announcements by companies including Huayi Brothers, Shanghai Media Group, Disney, Sony, Jeff Robinov and Robert Simonds.
 
The festival has previously attracted other high profile figures from Hollywood, including James Cameron, Kathleen Kennedy, Luc Besson and Keanu Reeves.
 
While not a U.S.-Chinese co-production, “Gravity” gave pride of place to a Chinese spacecraft which acted as temporary sanctuary for Sandra Bullock’s character as she attempted to make her way back to earth. The film was one of Hollywood’s top scorers in China last year, grossing $70.7 million.
 
John Woo is to head the jury that will decide the festival’s Tiantan Awards.