ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival – Extended deadline for short film competition 2015

Announcing competition judges and partnership with Taiwan International Queer Film Festival (TIQFF)

Shanghai, 3rd March, 2015 – ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival (ShPFF) is extending the deadline for ALL entries to its short film competition to 15th April, 2015. Submission details are online at https://shpride.com/films

We invite filmmakers to submit work which tells LGBT Chinese stories. In a time of rapid change, we are looking for the best and the brightest, the most innovative and the most engaging new voices in queer cinema. Submission is free, and we aim to screen every film by Chinese nationals (although filmmakers from any nation are invited to submit)

Films may be fiction, documentary or experimental, and should focus on queer Chinese experience (‘Chinese’ may be interpreted as national, ethnic or cultural identity). Eligible films must be under 30 minutes and made after June 2013.

Judges – We are pleased to announce our international panel of industry professionals who will be judging the ShPFF short film awards.

Cui Zi’en – Writer & Filmmaker, China
An award winning writer and experiential filmmaker, Cui Zi’en has been active since the 1990s in Chinese underground cinema, and is significant for his contribution to DV film. In 2002, he was recognised by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission for his efforts to bring same-sex relationships to the public arena in China. He continues to be a driving force in rights activism, and is currently a dep-uty researcher at Beijing Film Academy. His work includes Enter The Clowns (2002), Feeding Boys, Aiyaya (2003) and Queer China, Comrade China (2009)

Desmond Loh – Executive Director, Stink Shanghai
Stink is one of the world’s top international production houses, working in advertis-ing, entertainment, music and the arts. With a focus on quality and smart production, the brand strives to create an inspirational home for talent. Stink Shanghai most re-cently hit the spotlight for producing the festival hit, Lilting, starring Ben Whishaw and Cheng Pei Pei.

Gary Mak – Director, Broadway Cinematheque of EDKO Films
Based in Hong Kong, Gary has over fifteen years working in the Asian film market. He is a graduate of University of London, with two further degrees from HKU. EDKO is a leading producer of original stories in Asia, with films like Fearless, Hero, and Lust, Caution, as well as being a major distributor of acclaimed international titles. The Cinematheque is part of Broadway Circuit, with 30 cinemas across Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Quentin Lee – Filmmaker, Ethan Mao
Born and raised in Hong Kong. At eleven, he started making short films on Super 8mm. He attended UC Berkeley, Yale and UCLA for his BA in English, his MA in English and his MFA in Production and Directing. He has directed numerous short films and five features Shopping for Fangs (1997 Toronto International Film Festival), Drift (2000), Ethan Mao (2003 Taipei Film Fesitival), The People I’ve Slept With (2009 Golden Horse Film Festival), White Frog (2012) and The Unbidden (2015).

Mia Li – Music Producer & DJ
Born in Chengdu and raised in Vancouver, Mia Li is a music producer and DJ who stands at the forefront of China’s electronic music scene. She launched her career af-ter moving to Shanghai from Vancouver, with a B.A. degree in post-production and sound design for film from Vancouver Film School . Her talent and charisma have earned her invitations to perform in Zurich, Barcelona, Germany, and Korea, not to mention numerous cities in China.

TIQFF – We are pleased to formally announce our partnership with Taiwan International Queer Film Festival. Launched in 2014, TIQFF is already a significant part of the pan-Asian queer film circuit, and are currently accepting sino-language submissions for their festival in October.

As part of our partnership, we have invited TIQFF to present a screening of Taiwan-ese queer short films at ShPFF in June. The event will be accompanied by a Q+A discussion with festival director Jay Lin on the state and role of queer film in chinese society.

Further news and details about ShPFF and ShanghaiPRIDE are available through our social media platforms. The festival will take place 14-21st June, 2015.

Contact:
Alvin Li, Festival Coordinator – films@shanghaipride.com
Matthew Baren, Festival Coordinator – films@shanghaipride.com