SHANGHAI - (June 16, 2014) - The 17th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) will kick off on a high note with Christie®, a global leader in digital cinema projection, deploying its 4K digital cinema projector to screen the opening film of this prestigious event on June 14, 2014. Christie is also the exclusive digital projection partner for the SIFF for the sixth consecutive year.
The 17th SIFF, which takes place from June 14 -22, 2014, is China's only non-specialized competitive international film festival accredited by the Paris-based Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films (FIAPF). The festival will open in style with the screening of the classic Chinese film Stage Sisters, which has been fully restored using 4K full-color technology. Directed by the late Chinese director Xie Jin and first released in 1964, the 50-year-old film is now widely regarded as Xie's masterpiece. Stage Sisters is also the first full color feature film to be restored in 4K by the SIFF using the latest restoration technologies at Italy's L'Immagine Ritrovata film restoration laboratory. The screening of this film at SIFF also marks its worldwide debut in full 4K glory.
The results of the 4K restoration are obvious when the film is played on the big screen using the Christie Solaria CP4230 DLP® Digital Cinema Projector. Not only can the audience enjoy significantly improved images, they can also appreciate finer details which are not visible previously. Simply put, the film looks absolutely stunning after the meticulous restoration process by L'Immagine Ritrovata.
The Christie Solaria Series is the only 4K DLP® solution able to provide the world's most brilliant images, the highest level of content security, the easiest adaptability, operation and maintenance. Fully DCI compliant, and built on Christie's extensive cinema experience, the Christie Solaria Series is ready for the next evolution of digital cinema; capable of displaying premium 4K content or 2D/3D 2K High Frame Rate (HFR) feature films and alternative content in its original format.
In conjunction with this spectacular opening, Christie officially launched the world's first commercial laser projection system at the Shanghai Film Art Center on June 13. On this occasion, Christie demonstrated the advantage of laser projection vis-à-vis conventional projection systems, and conducted a special screening of the Hollywood film, Godzilla. SIFF's designated cinemas such as Shanghai Cineplex and Da Guang Ming Cineplex also featured the festival's movie line-up using Christie's Solaria series of 2K and 4K digital cinema projectors.
A stellar lineup of international movie celebrities is expected to attend this year's SIFF red carpet ceremonies. Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Hayden Christensen, Rain, Song Seung Heon and Park Shin Hye will grace the red carpet at the opening ceremony on June 14, while the closing ceremony red carpet will be equally as star-studded with Natalie Portman and Son Tae-Yeong, among others, on parade.
"The organizers of this year's SIFF have chosen Stage Sisters as its opening film to reflect the cultural, historical and technological elements of this truly international film event," said Ming Zhang, marketing director, Shanghai International Film Festival Limited. "The screening of restored film masterpieces demonstrates the pioneering effort by the SIFF to support and breathe new life to classic Chinese films which are part of our enduring film history."
"This opening of this year's SIFF coincides with the annual Cultural Heritage Day and we hope that through the screening of Stage Sisters as the opening film, it will create awareness of the need to protect our film and cultural heritage. We are glad to have Christie as our exclusive digital projection partner once again to continue the creative process for the past six years. And we certainly look forward to more fruitful years of collaboration with digital cinema projection leaders such as Christie."
Lin Yu, vice president, Christie Asia Pacific, said, "As the hub of Chinese film art, Shanghai is the place where many dreams become reality on the screen. As the barometer of China's movie industry, the SIFF gathers the best film professionals around the world for this annual event. Christie, as a world leader in digital cinema projectors, is honored to be associated with the festival. We're very happy and honored that the Christie Solaria CP4230 digital cinema projector is deployed to screen the fully restored version of the late Chinese director Xie Jin's masterpiece Stage Sisters in its 4K glory."