Beijing film fest

    THE 5th Beijing International Film Festival kicked off Thursday at the Yanqi Lake in Beijing’s suburbs. French director Luc Besson will chair the jury of the Tiantan Awards, which also includes Robert Mark Kamen from the United States, South Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk, Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles, Russia’s Fyodor Bondarchuk, Peter Chan from Hong Hong and Chinese actress Zhou Xun.

    Fifteen films have been accepted for the main competition and a chance at the Tiantan Awards in 10 categories, including best feature film, best director, best actor, best actress and best music. Italian film “Wondrous Boccaccia” by the Taviani brothers is the opening film at the festival.

    New Monkey King film

    WHILE Daniel Wu’s AMC modern take on “Journey to the West” is awaiting its premiere in fall, it was revealed that a Sino-Hollywood film collaboration is underway for the Chinese classic.

    Beijing Ruyi Xinxin Film Investment will be working alongside Paramount Pictures to produce a 3-D version of the popular legend, entitled “Where the Road Leads to,” to be released in summer 2017. To be produced by Mark Johnson of “Rain Man” and “Breaking Bad” fame, the movie will star Zhang Jinlai, Ma Dehua and Chi Chongrui, who were part of the 1986 classic TV version.

    Jonathan Crombie dies

    CANADIAN actor Jonathan Crombie, best known for playing the role of Gilbert Blythe in the “Anne of Green Gables” TV movies, has died. He was 48.

    His sister, Carrie Crombie, on Saturday told CBC News her brother died after a brain hemorrhage Wednesday in New York City. “He was funny, he was sweet, he loved acting, he loved comedy and singing and dancing,” she added in tribute to her late brother.