娱乐英语新闻:Beijing Filmfest brings film feast to citizens

BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of film fans have sat in the open air of the Beijing Olympic Park and watched movies screened for free as part of a program attached to the 2nd Beijing International Film Festival that closes on Saturday.

Among the audience of the "Film Carnival" on Friday night was 78-year-old Cao Jie'ru, who had watched free movies with his wife in three consecutive days. He asked his son to drive him here everyday from southern Daxing district, nearly 32 km from the Olympic Park.

They watched "All's Well Ends Well 2011," "Confucius" and other movies, and really enjoyed themselves, Cao said.

One or two movies were projected here each night during the Beijing film festival, which runs from April 23-28.

The Film Carnival received more than 20,000 people when it opened on April 23, and an increasing number of people have been attracted in subsequent days.

This year's Beijing International Film Festival has gathered representatives from 600 film institutions at home and abroad, and more than 2,000 film professionals, including legendary director James Cameron, whose coming frenzied many die-hard cinemagoers.

"I'm a faithful fan of his 'Titanic', which created a great sensation in China 15 years ago. Several days ago, I saw the film in 3D and I never expected his coming," said Zhang Xiaoxuan, a 28-year-old Beijinger.

She added the presence of Cameron and other film giants has made the festival a truly international event.

Their arrival was not the only impressive aspect of the celebration of film, as 260 domestic and overseas flicks will have been screened in dozens of theaters in Beijing, with tickets available for as little as 10 yuan (1.58 U.S. dollars), by the time the fest finishes.

Popular blockbusters like "Ice Age" and "The Lord of the Rings", as well as some low-budget foreign pieces like "The Artist" and "The Descendants," which are hard to see in Chinese cinemas, have been on the screening list, said a college student surnamed Li.

At the Interactive Movie Technology Zone, citizens were shocked by the live special-effect scenes created by film technology masters.

"Once wearing 3D glasses, we can see thousands of mounted soldiers rushing toward us, but in fact there is nothing except several simple pixels. Really amazing," said Qiao Yunfeng from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Standing beside the "Water Cube," or the National Swimming Center, the 15-meter-tall model of the Transformers Bumblebee attracted crowds of children.

"This film festival is like a hypermarket; there is so much content here, you can find anything you're interested in," said Xiao Li, who added he regretted its coming conclusion.

"The 2nd filmfest has grown more mature than the one held last year, and we are all waiting to see its third term," he added.