Documentary on early 20th-century Chinese lives in film festival

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A documentary depicting Chinese lives in the first half of the 20th century will be screened at the Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival (GIDFF).

“Around China with a Movie Camera: A Journey from Beijing to Shanghai, 1900-1948” is directed by Dziga Vertov, a Soviet documentary film and newsreel director as well as cinema theorist. The restored film records Chinese lives during that period.

The film will be presented to the public during the festival's Golden Kapok Screening.

“Around China with a Movie Camera: A Journey from Beijing to Shanghai, 1900-1948” is presented in Shanghai, June 13, 2015. /VCG Photo

The Golden Kapok Screening, scheduled from December 8 to 16, will screen more than 60 films, including many award-winning documentaries.

They include “The Deminer,” winner of the Special Jury Award in the 2017 Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival; “Minding the Gap,” winner of the Special Jury Prize in the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and Top Audience Pick in the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival; and “Time Trial," winner of the Jury Prize in the RiverRun International Film Festival.

Chinese creations will also be screened, such as director Han Yi's "In My Eyes," which was the only domestic film competing for best documentary at the Shanghai International Film Festival; director Jiao Bo's "Beyond the Mountains"; and new director Zhang Nan's maiden work "Stammering Ballet."

A poster for "In My Eyes." /Photo via the official website of the GIDFF

The GIDFF has been held annually since 2014. This year, 4,542 films from 122 countries and regions across the world will be competing, with more than half from overseas.

A total of 43 films from 24 countries have become finalists for the Golden Kapok Award. The 12 winners in 10 categories will be announced on December 13.

(Top image: A file photo of a cyclist on the street. /VCG Photo)