The British Council, in partnership with the BFI, is supporting an increased presence for British film at the Shanghai International Film Festival (June 15-23).

As part of a new collaboration between the British Council and SIFF, the festival is screening seven contemporary British films: The Angel’s Share, Berberian Sound Studio, Shadow Dancer, Ginger & Rosa, Everyday, Song for Marion [pictured] and Quartet. The majority of the films were backed by the BFI Film Fund.

Also the BFI’s recent Hitchcokc 9 restorations will screen at SIFF. This is the first time that all nine films will be presented in China.

Two UK short filmmakers will attend SIFF supported by funds from the joint British Council/BFI Short Support Scheme; BAFTA-nominated TheVoorman Problem and The Craftsman will both screen as part of ‘Mobile SIFF’, the Festival’s short film forum.

A full delegation from the BFI, led by BFI CEO Amanda Nevill and including Creative Director Heather Stewart and Head of International Isabel Davis, will attend the festival to meet Chinese counterparts.

A UK/China exchange programme in 2014 will see the largest ever retrospective of Chinese cinema at London’s BFI Southbank.  

Meanwhile, the festival welcomes Tom Hooper as jury head and Helen Mirren who is presenting Hitchcock.

Briony Hanson, Director Film, British Council, said: “It’s so exciting to be able to see such a positive UK presence in SIFF this year following on from the groundwork the British Council has been doing to build audiences and interest in British arts. That the 2013 festival programme includes a selection of contemporary features, contribution from emerging talent and a celebration of one of our greatest ever filmmakers (given new life by the BFI’s restoration experts), is testament to the strength of our industry.”

Amanda Nevill, BFI CEO, added: “To see Chinese audiences embracing British film is thrilling and its fantastic that we are able to give what is one of the world’s most important cinema-going nations the opportunity to see both the best of British screen heritage and modern British filmmaking. Equally we recognize the importance and influence of Chinese cinematic heritage here in the UK and the BFI will be celebrating this with an extensive project planned for 2014.  I hope these are just the beginnings of an even closer collaborative relationship between the UK and China.”

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