Art Breaker: China Women's Film Festival Now On!

Art Breaker is news, gossip and inside info from Shanghai's burgeoning arts and music scene. 

Attention all you mainstream and cult film lovers, feminists and non-feminists alike! The second China Women’s Film Festival is presenting a total of fifteen screenings around the city throughout the week. (Scroll down for more screening details.)

While the women’s film festival in Taiwan has an almost-20-year history, and many female directors in Hong Kong have been making their marks since the 1930s, women’s cinema is still in its infancy in Chinese mainland Although they came from different backgrounds, Ying Xin, Dan Li, Juan Jiang and Zhao-Yu Li shared a common desire to do something about women and arts, so the four first launched the first China Women’s Film Festival  covering four cities in 2013.

“We are a pretty grassroots film festival, none of the members of our organizing committee is from the film industry, and it’s completely organized by volunteers.” Says Ying, “It isn’t the first of its kind in Chinese mainland, but it is the only one that makes it to the second edition.” 

In its second year, the China Women’s Film Festival is running parallel sessions in Shanghai. “Shanghai is free, fashionable, feminine… and it offers unparalleled opportunities for women in China. Shanghai is an ideal venue for our CWFF.” Says Monica Qiu, a like-minded friend of Ying’s who initiated the sessions in Shanghai. 

Monica started to summon volunteers at her birthday party in late October. Through the magic of networking and social media, she gathered around 80 ardent participants. “We’ve only had one month to make it happen, and the fact that it relies solely on volunteering… There are lots of uncertainties.” 

Volunteers all have their own jobs. Putting together this film festival uses up their spare time, but they are quite enjoying it. “We had lots of meetings last until midnight, and afterwards, everyone went on with their ‘homework’. We split up marketing, renting venues, inviting guests, seeking media partners and sponsorship…” Monica continues, “We are just a temporary team, but we’ve been efficient and organized. I’m so proud of us!” 

“I see feminism as a harmonious interplay between both sexes.” Monica told THAT’S, “We are expecting that through such film screenings and forums, not only women would become more active in exploring their own identities, but men would get more involved, to better understand women. This hasn’t been done enough in China.” 

Here's a list of the film screenings coming up over the next week: 

* Tickets are available for purchase at the venue on the day of the screening.
* All films are English-subtitled.
* There are forums (in Chinese) held after each screening joined by academics and some of the directors.

Location and address details:
Yuz Museum: 35 Fenggu Lu, by Longteng Avenue, Xuhui District
余德耀美术馆：徐汇区丰谷路35号, 近龙腾大道

NYU Shanghai: Room 101, 268 Songlin Lu, Pudong District
上海纽约大学：浦东新区松林路268号101室

Tongji Venture Valley: 100 Zhangwu Lu (guides at the gate), Yangpu District,
同济大学创业谷: 杨浦区彰武路100号（门口有专人指引）

Wan Yuan Culture: Room 408, Building No.1, 733 Wanhangdu Lu, Jing’an Dstrict
万源文化: 万航渡路733号1号楼408室

Story Space: 258 Fangcao Lu, Pudong District
SS青年空间：浦东新区芳草路258号

Qia Tu Sheng Huo: Room 512, Building No.47, 47 Zhengyi Lu, by Guoxiang Lu, Yangpu District
恰图生活：杨浦区五角场政益路47号（近国庠路）五角丰达广场47号楼512室

Aurora Museum: 5th Floor, Aurora Building, 99 Fucheng Lu, by Mingshang Lu, Pudong District
震旦博物馆：浦东新区富城路99号震旦国际大厦内5楼(近名商路)

Images from China Women’s Film Festival 2014

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