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"Gong Li Heads Review Committee of Tokyo Film Festival"

November 4, 2003

The Sixteenth Tokyo International Film Festival opened here on Saturday afternoon, with famous Chinese actress Gong Li acting as chairwoman to the review committee.

More than 100 people including directors and actors are coming from all over the world to attend the opening ceremony.

207 films will be shown in the current film festival and the review committee will announce the prize winning films on Nov 9th.

The Tokyo International Film Festival was initiated in 1985 when it was held every two years. Since 1992, it has been held annually.

Source: China.Org

"Tokyo int'l film fest opens with 100 celebs drawing crowds"

November 3, 2003

Some 100 celebrities attended the opening of the 16th Tokyo International Film Festival on Saturday afternoon, drawing crowds hoping to catch a glimpse of them to Tokyo's Shibuya entertainment district.

Japanese and international directors and film stars - including Chinese actress Gong Li, who heads the festival's competition jury - were greeted along a red carpet 100 meters in length with cheers from enthusiastic crowds outside the Bunkamura multimedia complex.

Japanese actresses Shinobu Otake, Hitomi Kuroki, Eri Fukatsu and Kyoko Fukada, who played four sisters in the opening film ''Like Asura,'' arrived clad in Japanese kimono.

A total of 207 films will be screened during the nine-day event and 15 films are competing for six prizes. They include the Tokyo Grand Prix, which carries a cash prize of $80,000 and will be announced at the closing ceremony Nov. 9.

Source: Kyodo News