Asian movies, directors receive warm welcome at film festival

Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai's film The Grandmaster featuring Zhang Ziyi is among the wellreceived Asian films at the 25th Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Crowds formed a long line from the entrance of the Annenberg Theater all the way around the building, extending even to the sidewalk of the street, before the theater opened for the screening of Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's film Back to 1942.

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Such a sight is not unique at the 25th Palm Springs International Film Festival. A day earlier, when Indian film Lakshmi was shown, a similar long line wound up the street.

More than 15 films from Asia were featured at the festival, and several Asian filmmakers have traveled to attend the festival with their films and conduct a Q&A with the audience after each screening.

"I'm overwhelmed and touched by the audience's response," says Elahe Hiptoola, producer of Lakshmi.

The film is based on true events. Lakshmi is a 14-year-old girl sold into prostitution, and her unyielding resolve not to lose hope and her courageous acts eventually bring down her oppressors.

Nagesh Kukumnoor, director of Lakshmi, also came to the festival. He has worked with Hiptoola to make 13 films together.

They took a different route for their latest film, which Hiptoola called a "social contribution" in which they address the issue of abduction and prostitution of women in India.

Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai also attended the festival with his film The Grandmaster, which is on the shortlist of nine finalists in the best foreign language film category for the Academy Awards.

Wong participated in the "Talking Pictures Program" organized to explore "the careers and creative choices of the top talents in the world of cinema". At the program, Wong talks about his latest film as well as his other award-winning hits.