Wong Kar Wai's The Grandmaster to open Berlinale

The international premiere of The Grandmaster by Chinese director and president of this year’s jury, Wong Kar Wai, will open the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival on Feb 7. It will screen out of competition.

The film is a martial arts epic set against 1930s China, about Bruce Lee’s mentor Ip Man (Tony Leung Chiu Wai). The cast also features Ziyi Zhang, Chang Chen, Zhao Benshan, Xiao Shengyang and Song Hye Kyo.

Wong has been working on the film since he came up with the idea in 1996. The Grandmaster is a Block 2 Pictures and Sil-Metropole Organisation presentation of a Jet Tone Films and Sil-Metropole Organisation production.

“It is a special honour for us to open the 2013 Berlinale with the presentation of the newest film by this year’s jury president, Wong Kar Wai. With The Grandmaster, Kar Wai has added a new and exciting facet to his body of works, and created an artful, visually powerful genre film,” said festival director Dieter Kosslick.

“I am truly very honoured by Dieter and his invitation for my new film The Grandmaster to participate in the 63rd Berlinale and to open the festival. This is a dream project for me that I had been developing for many years. I am very happy to be able to present it in Berlin. I was already greatly looking forward to my returning to Berlin to serve as the President of the International Jury, so seeing The Grandmaster presented there will make it all the more special for me,” said Wong.

The film will have its world premiere China on Jan 8. Wild Bunch will distribute in Germany.