The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and the British Council introduced promising British film talent to leading figures in the Chinese film industry on Sunday (18 June) at an afternoon tea reception at The Peninsula Shanghai. The event, held during the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), featured four British filmmakers who were identified through BAFTA’s talent discovery programme, and who have now been matched with an industry mentor from China who will advise them during their visit.
The four Britons are:
- Actress Katie Leung, who first came to prominence in the Harry Potter series of films, and was named a BAFTA Breakthrough Brits in 2014. Katie Leung will be mentored in China by actress Celina Jade (Arrow, Legendary Assassin)
- BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated producer Brian J Falconer, who received both recognitions in 2015 for his short film Boogaloo and Graham. Brian J Falconer will be mentored in China by Jennifer Dong, CEO and founding partner of Meridian Entertainment (Mojin – The Lost Legend, Feng Shui).
- BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jennifer Majka, whose short film The Bigger Picture was also Oscar-nominated in 2015. Jennifer Majka will be mentored in China by screenwriter and novelist Xu Zhanxiong (Kung Fu Yoga, 1983).
- Producer Lauren Dark, who was named a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit in 2015 for her work of films such as War Book, written by BAFTA-winning writer Jack Thorne and BAFTA-nominated director Tom Harper. Lauren Dark will be mentored in China by producer Philip Lee (Assassin’s Creed and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).
Tim Hunter, Director of Learning and Events at BAFTA, said: “It’s such a pleasure to bring these talented Brits to Shanghai to meet their Chinese peers and learn more about China’s film industry, with generous support from esteemed mentors. We’re grateful to the Shanghai International Film Festival for making us so welcome and we look forward to growing our relationship with this vibrant, creative city and with film professionals across China.”
Nick Marchand, Director Arts and Creative Industry, British Council China said: “As a partner, we are delighted to support BAFTA and its new talent on this trip to Shanghai during Shanghai International Film Festival. We hope this trip opens new opportunities for UK-China film exchange, and creates a long-term impact for both.”
Also at the event was British filmmaker Tian Macleod Ji, now living in Beijing, who was awarded a BAFTA Scholarship to study in Hong Kong in 2014.
BAFTA’s activity in Shanghai is supported by The Peninsula Shanghai and Champagne Taittinger.
.jpg "BAFTA Scholars Katie Leung, Jennifer Majka, Lauren Dark & Brian Falconer")
(From L-R): Katie Leung, Jennifer Majka, Lauren Dark and Brian J Falcone
.jpg "Katie Leung, Brian J Falconer, Jennifer Majka and Lauren Dark with their mentors Celina Jade, Jennifer Dong, Xu Zhanxiong and Philip Lee")
(From L-R): Celina Jade, Philip Lee, Lauren Dark, Jennifer Dong, Brian Falconer, Zhanxiong XU, Jennifer Majka and Katie Leung
.jpg "Brian Falconer, Lauren Dark, Jennifer Majka, Tian Mcleod & Katie Leung")
Brian J Falconer, Lauren Dark, Jennifer Majka and Katie Leung with BAFTA Scholar Tian Macleod Ji (second from right)
.jpg "Jennifer Majka, Brian Falconer, Lauren Dark & Katie Leung")
(From L-R): Matt Knowles (East China Area Director of the British Council), Jennifer Majka, Brian Falconer, Lauren Dark, Katie Leung and Nick Marchand (Director of Arts and Creative Industry for the British Council China)
.jpg "Jennifer Majka")
BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jennifer Majka
.jpg "Katie Leung")
Actress and BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Katie Leung
.jpg "Brian Falconer")
BAFTA-winning producer Brian J Falconer
.jpg "Lauren Dark")
Producer and BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Lauren Dark
For high resolution photos, please download at link or visit www.bafta.org/media-centre
For further information, please contact:
Monica Qu at Strategic PR Group (China)
T (86) 10 8580 4258 x251
E [email protected]
Eleanor Pickering at BAFTA (UK)
T +44 (0) 20 7734 0022
E [email protected]
