Shanghai is expanding market activities in 2007. Sen-lun Yu reports.

Celebrating its 10th edition this year, the Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff), held June 16-24, is gradually expanding its film market and intends to demonstrate China's business potential.

Aside from the Jin Jue Competition, the festival's main competitive section, and the Asian New Talents Award, the 2007 edition will see the launch of a new competition taking place in the Siff film market.

Called the Co-Production Trade Talk, the forum will be held June 20-23 and will select eight projects from the submitted 58 co-production projects. The eight will have the priority to sign co-production deals with either of the two state-owned film groups, China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group, according to Siff managing director Tang Lijun.

The Co-Production Trade Talk takes place after two other Asian project markets - Hong Kong Filmart's Hong Kong-Asia Film Finance Forum (HAF) and the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) - but will focus on Sino-foreign production projects instead of pan-Asian projects.

Siff film market (June 17-23) also contains the International Hall (June 17-19) with 100-plus local exhibitors and 50 international buyers; and an exhibition of film and TV studios in China (June 17-20).

Programme highlights include Tribute To The Master, which showcases classic films from Akira Kurosawa, Pedro Almodovar and Marcello Mastroianni, New Chinese Films, Focus On Germany and Passionate Brazil.

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