Trailer-New Generation contemporary Chinese independent film from Kiki Yu on Vimeo.

Cube Magic and Cinéphilia West are delighted to host an event spread across four evenings, New Generation: Contemporary Independent Chinese Film. It is a showcase of some of the latest and most innovative and exciting films made by young generation Chinese filmmakers. In a series of four screenings: documentaries, animations, fictions and experimental videos, this event presents a new vision of contemporary China, under the themes of ‘Absurdity and Reality’, ‘Lost in ‘Now? – dream, memory and fantasy’, ‘Merging Fiction and Documentary?’, and ‘Searching for Identity ‘.

Most of the young film talents were born and grew up in post-socialist China, and they take a more personal and even first-person approach representing Chinese social reality. Among the showcased films, many are highlights from the Chongqing Independent Film and Video Festival, China (CIFVF). 


The event will be presented by Independent Filmmaker and Programmer, CDR member, Tianqi Yu, director of Cube Magic, with the support from CIFVF and CDR. The London based Cube Magic(cubemagic.org) curates and programmes contemporary Chinese independent film and video works. Promoting international collaborations and exchange between China and abroad, Cube Magic represents emerging innovative young generation film/video makers, mostly born in post-socialist China.

When: From Thursday 27th to 30th May 2010 at 7:00pm


Where: Cinéphilia West, 171 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RS


Cost: £5 on the door / Free to Cinéphilia Club members


For further information about the event,
please contact Yoram Allon ( yoram@cinephilia.co.uk) / 020 7792 4433
and Caroline Jones ( caroline@cinephilia.co.uk)/ Cubemagic.org

Program

New Generation: Contemporary Independent Chinese Film

7 – 10pm, 27th MAY – Focus on Documentary: ‘Absurdity and Reality ’

Living in contemporary China means a life-long experience of dramatic transformations without much option of escape. This absurd reality makes everyone constantly re-position the ‘self’. Experiencing this constant shifting of identity, young documentary filmmakers also explore the ongoing challenges of documentary filmmaking – of how to position themselves as filmmakers, and their relations with others and society at large.
In The 7th Medical Ward, the filmmaker lives closely with homeless people in a developed South Eastern coastal city. The homeless people are regarded as being ‘mentally disabled’ by society and the filmmaker sympathises with their plight and feelings at being forsaken.

In Three Animals, the filmmaker, being an orphan himself, documents fragments of lives of his younger orphan ‘brothers’.  We may question his lack of moral responsibility by filming young boys robbing and fighting, but isn’t he also a victim of this absurd reality?

In Scrape, the filmmaker exposes her position more explicitly; in fact the film explores how difficult it is for her to elicit responses from urban management officers as well as the merchants who play ‘hide-and-seek’ with them.

Lastly, Settled is a dialogue between the 21-year-old film maker and an 83-year-old man; with the elder man’s story mirroring the transformation of China throughout the twentieth century, can the young film maker who was born in a new China, have a clear view the country’s present and future?

1. The 7th Medical Ward (Dir. ZHANG Tianhui, 44 mins, 2007)
2. Three Animals (Dir. XUE Jianqiang, 17 mins, 2008)
3. Scrape (Dir. ZHU Yi, 30 mins, 2008)
4. Settled (Dir. SHAN Zuolong, 30 mins, 2009)

Introduction and Q&A with Professor Chris Berry
Professor of Film and Television Studies, Goldsmiths, University of London

7 – 10pm, 28th May – Focus on Animation: ‘Lost in “Now” – Dream, Memory and Fantasy’

The young animation director Lei Lei shares his daydream of childhood with us inMagic Cube & Pingpong Color and Pear or Alien. He also reminds us how we can easily get lost in our greedy desires in The Face.

Ms. Red, Li Xianji’s Adventures and The Chinese Labour are animated documentaries. While Ms. Red illustrates the experience of the elder generation growing up during the Cultural Revolution, Li Xianji’s Adventures explicitly presents the fragmented ’self’ growing up in the commoditised ‘gaming’ China. The Chinese Labour, on the other hand, tells stories of the struggling subaltern class. This showcase also includes three most recent and best animations from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

All together, these animations invite us to think: to what extend can the truth be told through animated memory and dreams?

1. Magic Cube & Pingpong Color (Dir. Lei lei, 4 mins, 2009)
2. Pear or Alien (Dir. Lei Lei, 4 mins, 2008)
3. The Face (Dir. Lei Lei, 9 mins, 2007)
4. Black Pig White Pig (ZHANG Gong, 5 mins, 2005)
5. The Chinese Labour (Dir. CONG Longfei, 7 mins, 2008)
6. Ms. Red (Dir. ZHANG Gong, 17 mins, 2009)
7. Li Xianji’s Adventures (Dir. Youxiu de Feixingyuan, 22 mins, 2009)
8. Give & Take (Dir. HE Zhiping, 5 mins, 2008)
9. The Soliloquist (Dir. YU Weicheng, 6 mins, 2009)
10. The little Sun (Dir. Qiu Liwei, 22 mins, 2007)

7 – 10pm, 29th May – Focus on Narrative Short Films: ‘Bridging Fiction and Documentary’

This showcase of short fictions demonstrates more personal styles of film making. The award-winning Condolences re-enacts one true story in a single long take of 19 minutes, which challenges the aesthetics of so-called ‘fly-on-the-way’ documentary. The other films on show challenge the stereotypical Social-Realism of Chinese cinema by illustrating the more complex truth of living in China in a more self-reflective and expressive way. In addition, queer relationships also become a focus in ‘New Generation’ cinema, which can be found in And I Knewand Spring of Yangchun.

1. Condolences (Dir. YING Liang, 19 mins, 2009)
2. The Mirror Minded (Dir. MA Xiang, 30 mins, 2007)
3. And I Knew (Dir. HUANG KAI, 15 mins, 2004)
4. Spring of Yangchun (Dir. YANG Pingdao, 17 mins, 2006)
5. Closed Eyed; Wake Up (Dir. WONG Weihai, 18 mins, 2009)
6. F.I.L.L. K.I.S.H (Dir. LIN Zhele, 10 mins, 2005)

7 – 10pm, 30th May – focus on Experimental Film: ‘Searching for Identity’

While the short documentaries demonstrate the difficulty of positioning the ’self’ in response to the dramatic transformations under way in the country, the selected experimental films directly question the ’self’ in contemporary China on the explicit level of identity: ‘who are we?’

1. Me (Dir, CHEN Xuegang, 1 min 34 secs, 2008)
2. Tremble (Dir. CHEN Xuegang, 2 mins 20 secs, 2007)
3. Export (Dir. ZHOU Fei, 3 mins, 2009)
4. Untitled-3 (Dir. LI Ning, 15 mins, 2008
5. Yellow Spirit (Dir. Wang Wenyang, 7 mins, 2009)
6. Unfinished-2 (Dir. LI Ning, 16 mins, 2008)
7. National Anthem (Dir. LI Wake, 10 mins, 2009)

Q&A with Dr. Katie Hill
Senior Lecturer in contemporary Chinese Art and Visual Culture, University of Westminster

The Chinese Designers’ Region (CDR) is delighted to invite you to join our special event – CDR Shanghai Salon 2009. Since CDR was set up in 2006, many members have been back to China either started their own business or joined local creative industries. The salon is aiming to provide a platform for members to update each other what they have been up to and exchange their thoughts on how they adapted the context of local working condition. Members will also be informed what CDR has been doing during this year in London. Speakers range from architecture, product design, graphic design to fashion design. Guests are also welcome to briefly present your works and share what you have been through: excitement, frustration and happiness. This salon will be annually run by our Shanghai correspondence who will be elected during the salon. Special thanks to ACO Studio for venue support.
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CDR Shanghai Salon 2009

Date: Sunday, 20th December, 2009
Time: 2:30 pm to 7 pm
Venue: ACO Studio, 31 South Kaixuan Road, Xuhui District (Near Tube: Long Cao Road Station, Line 3)徐汇区凯旋南路31号(地铁3号线龙漕路站) 
Organized by: Chinese Designers’ Region (CDR)
Admission: Free (Drinks and snacks will be provided.)

Please RSVP to cdrsubscription@googlemail.com. For other inquiries and information about joining CDR, please email info@cdregion.com .

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=207078162412

Salon is chaired by William Hailiang Chen, more speakers to be confirmed. If you would like to present, please contact him at 0086-15011860729 or e-mail will@cdregion.com

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Coming next event:

CDR Pecha Kucha in Guangzhou 2009
Date: Thursday, 31st December, 2009
more details coming soon

Founder and creative director of CDR, Ann Xiao was invited to represent CDR to participate in the Asian Youth Animation & Comic Contest 2009 (AYACC www.ayacc.org ) in Guiyang, China. She presented the CDR Animation Showreel 2009 and gave a presentation about her work as well as a screening entitled “Scientific Practice in Animation”.

It is the 3rd year since AYACC was first launched in China in 2006. The event was hosted by The People’s Government of Guiyang and Guizhou Committee of Economy & Information Technology, with participants from 26 countries and regions.

The theme of AYACC 2009 is “joyful animation and comics in creative Guiyang”. Invited by the General Secretary of Jury of AYACC, Mr. Liuyi Wang, there were hundreds of animation professionals from all over the world who attended the 3 day program of exhibitions, presentations, screenings and forums.

The special events included:
International Scientific Animation Festival,
AYACC 2009 Forum,
Award Ceremony and Concert,
Copyright Trading
And Cosplay contest.

International speaks were:
Kexuan Ma, Chinese famous animation artist;
Wu Guanying, Chief designer of Fuwa, mascot of 2008 Olympic Games;
Junichi Kawamura, Producer of Japan CG-Arts Media Festival;
Jared Fong, Technical Director at Pixar Animation Studio;
Ann Xiao, Animation Director in London and co-founder of CDR;
Nigar Nazar, the first woman cartoonist of Pakistan;
Ming Chen, Vice President of Crystal Film & Animation;
David Bolinsky, Co-founder of XVIVO Scientific Animation,
And many more.

One of the most memorable highlights of the festival was the amazing venue of the Scientific Animation Forum. It was located at Xiaohe Diesel Factory in Guiyang which is an abandoned factory built in 1946 by Mao’s Communist China. You could feel the history from the propaganda remaining on the walls and the smell of the old machinery. Guiyang’s City Government is aiming to develop the old factory site into a new exciting animation comic centre to bring some colour to the regeneration of Xiaohe district. The enthusiastic international animators and professionals are looking forward to seeing Xiaohe Diesel Factory evolve into a “Guiyang Animation 798 Factory” in the near future.

CDR – Chinese Designers’ Region Animation Collection 09 DVD

List of works:
1. Brush, by Lei Chen 2005 2′17″mins
2. My Life Tomorrow, by Wang Zhe 2007 9′39″mins
3. KEG, by EB Hu 2003 3′45″mins
4. Waking Up Inside the Fish, by Ann Xiao 2006 2′57″mins
5. Minnawa, by Emie Lee 2009 2′26″mins
6. Penny’s Crossing, by Tian Qian 2005 9′07mins
7. A Letter from Mars, by Jingfei Lei 2007 3′03″mins
8. On Solitude, by Mike Chan 2009 4′21″mins
9. Got a Really Good Th1ng, by Oway Lau 2009 3′34mins
10. Plenilune, by Beidi Guo 2007 5‘34“mins
11. Between the Lines, by Ann Xiao 2008 5’16”mins
12. Finally We Have Someone, by Jingfei Li 2008 2’50”mins
13. This Is Fire This Is Ice, by Mike Chan 2007 4′34″mins

Out-of-towners

China’s new generation of fashion thinkers isn’t limited to Beijing. Alice McInerney talks to five designers making an impact around the world

Du Yang

Surrealist designer Du Yang has notched up a fair few achievements so far with her ‘monster couture’, working for Westwood, Dior and Galliano before starting her own label.

She’s also part of CDR (Chinese Designers’ Region), a creative community promoting UK-based Chinese contemporary artists and designers. She’s making her debut at London Fashion Week this season in ‘On|Off presents…’, and is working on spring/summer 2010, which she tells us is ‘inspired by a memorable trip to Ecuador, a country full of vibrant characters and interesting stories’.

Her style icon is Bjork and her biggest compliment to date was when the course director of the St Martins, Louise Wilson (who taught McQueen, Deacon and Kane), said she hadn’t seen such an original collection in a long time.

Shop? Du’s work will be available here when the Dysemevas pop-up store arrives in Beijing. Watch this space.

Ma Masha

Ma Masha, another member of CDR, has worked for Alexander McQueen in London and Veronique Branquinho in Antwerp. Her designs were also presented at Get It Louder 2007, an influential and innovative design event in Shanghai. She debuted at London Fashion Week in February and is now preparing a show for the Chinese embassy in London for the PRC’s 60th anniversary.

She believes the women from 1920s Shanghai had the greatest impact on Chinese fashion, and her current muses include Tilda Swinton and Chloe Sevigny, although ultimately she’d love to dress Gong Li.

‘Her body is full of energy and she would look fantastic in a masculine-style tailored dress – something sexy and relaxed, with sharp detailing, but a feminine touch.’

Shop? She’s already making made-to-order items for clients in China, and once her studio is up and running in London she plans to return to Beijing.

For full article, please click below link:

http://www.timeout.com/cn/en/beijing/aroundtown/feature/8600/out-of-towners.html

Yang Du A/W 09 “Buda” and “Pest” , Photographer: Bella Howard, Stylist: Yasuhiro Takehisa

CDR member fashion designer Du Yang has just completed her new 2009 collection called Buda and Pest – a vibrant colorful collection of sweaters.  More images and details please click ‘continue reading’

A short interview by Susie Bubble from Dazed Digital following explains Du Yang’s inspiration behind the new collection.

Yang Du’s Buda and Pest
One of Dazed Fashion’s New Optimism designers is trying to bridge the past and future with a new mini collection.

It isn’t hard to have your attention grabbed by Yang Du’s creations. Strictly speaking the 30 year old CSM-trained designer uses knitwear as her primary force but she’s also willing to branch out into other areas to get her desired surreal effect. In the case of her A/W 09 “Buda” and “Pest” collection, it’s a whimsical continuation from her last collection. Strawberries, watermelons, animals and elderly folk are all having a knitted blast on oversized jumpers. Dazed speak to Yang to try and decipher between the “Buda” and the “Pest”.

Dazed Digital: How have …progressed for your last collection?
Yang Du: The reason I called it “Buda” and “Pest”, was because, I realized I was on the “bridge” between the past and the future, trying to make my mind up about what I should do! I had very little time and I thought it would be good to carry on from my last collection, have more fun and more experience with knitwear, both hand knitting and machine knitting.
 
DD: Any anecdotes from making this collection?
Yang Du: I spent Chinese New Year at home in China with my family, for the very first time in the last 8 years. As a treat, I had as many strawberries as I wanted, so I love my strawberry jumper.
 
DD: You said this collection was small but how will you expand for your next collection?
Yang Du: I am still learning the process, trying to do the best I can. I have just got back from Ecuador for research, and will off again next month to see more factories. This is gonna be a very interesting season for me and I am 100% on it.

A designer who indulges in surrealist collections featuring knitted pork chops and monster face jumpers.

Text by Robbie Spencer Text by Katie Shillingford | Published 12 November 2008

Yang Du, 30, Chinese, Womenswear/Menswear/Knitwear/Print – anything that would work for the concept.

Where did you study and why did you decide to study there?
Central Saint Martins. Like many others, John Galliano was my inspiration.

Which city do work in and for what reason?
London. There isn’t any other place like London; its fun, creative, and unpredictable!

What films/books/tv-programs/moments and stories inspire your design now?
The most challenging film I have ever seen is ‘Taxidermia’ by Gyorgy Palfi, I still couldn’t get over with some of the shocking images after a year.

In your own words describe your last collection.
It is fun, relaxing and sexy.

Describe the moment you realised you wanted to be a fashion designer?
It was like have a reason to be in life, but I wasn’t known I was taking such risk of a life time.

Who is your all time fashion idol?
Franco Moschino.

In a sentence how would you describe your work/style?
The surrealism arts and theories have huge influence on my work.

From the recent S/S 09 shows, which shows were your favourite collections, and why?
I liked the Viktor & Rolf show; they always bring something new on the table.

Which new designers do you respect and why?
Giles Deacon, Gareth Pugh, both designer show strong personal identities in their work.

If you could go back in time and experience any fashion moment, what would it be?
I would love to go back to Coco Chanel period, when girls were dressing like boys.

If you could get any model/ anyone to wear your clothes, who would it be – who is your muse and why?
It has to be Bjork, she has something really special. Dancing in the Dark was a master piece.

If you were to shoot your campaign and you could get your dream team of photographer, stylist, and model and do anything you wanted, who and what would it be?
I would love to have Steven Klein as my photographer and if I could dream to have Grace Jones and Lily Cole as my models that would be amazing. Would be wonderful to be able to go to Cairo again for the photo shoot.

Where do you see yourself/your label for A/W 09?
I hope to make my debut at the London Fashion Week in Feb 2009.

Where do you see yourself/ your label for A/W 29?
Hope would be able to showing my collection in Paris as well as London.

Tell us any anecdotes about the making of your last collection.
I was very much addicted to the Fat Coca.

If you weren’t a fashion designer what would you be?
Musician.