12th Shanghai International Film Festival upping the curtains June 13

By Kirsti Jönson

Cinemaphiles and celebrity lovers - look this way! In just a couple of weeks, the Shanghai International Film Festival will kick off for a whole nine days, starting June 13.

Besides the star-watching we'll undoubtedly do (Shanghai Daily tells us both French ctress Isabelle Huppert and British actor Hugh Grant may be coming), there will also be a Jin Jue (Golden Goblet) competition.

No less than 16 films are to compete within categories such as best film, best director, best actor/actress as well as a Special Jury Award. The entries were announced last week by the jury panel of the 12th SIFF.

Yao Shuhua's "Empire of Silver," which debuted at this year's festivals at Berlin and Cannes, and "Soul Searching," by Tibetan director Wanma Caidan, are the two mainland productions to join the competition. The other 14 entries come from Italy, France, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Brazil South Korea, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Norway.

The jury president this time is Danny Boyle, the director of this year's Acadamy Award winner, Slumdog Millionaire. Last year´s president was famous director Wong Kar Wai.

Let's hope that nothing rains on this cinematic soiree this year, unlike last year - when the double whammy of the Sichuan Earthquake and disorganization caused it to be a lot less glamorous than usual.

And in case you just can't wait for some entertainment festival madness, the small screen will be featured the days before - when the 15th Shanghai Television Festival kicks off from June 8 to June 12.