The Flying Machine to world premiere at Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall

Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall is to play host to the world premiere of 3D family adventure feature The Flying Machine, as part of an event celebrating the Polish Presidency over the Council of the European Union (August 30).

Poland’s minister of culture and national heritage Bogdan Zdojewski and the director of the Polish Film Institute, Agnieszka Odorowicz are due to attend the event, which will be the first screening of a 3D movie project at the venue.

The Flying Machine, originally intended as a short celebrating the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, is a co-production between Beijing-based Bona International Film Group and Polish animation studio Breakthru with backing from the Polish Film Insitute.

Set in London, it follows an overworked and career-focussed single mother (Graham) who has her perspective changed when she’s taken on a skyward musical journey by Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang, making his feature debut. It is the first 3D feature to combine live action and stop motion animation.

Breakthru’s Martin Clapp and Geoff Lindsay co-directed the film, with Breakthru’s Hugh Welchman as producer and The King’s Speech producer Gareth Unwin as a line-producer.

Kino Świat is distributing in Poland and Bona Film Group in China. Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop is handling international sales.