IWC back in Spotlight at Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF)

Apr 23, 2014,05:18 AM
 

Beijing/Schaffhausen, 21 April 2014 - IWC Schaffhausen reaffirms its passion for filmmaking at the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) and for the second time acts as its official sponsor and partner. This year, about 200 celebrities and VIP guests from around the world were invited to the glamorous gala event entitled “For the Love of Cinema”. The IWC Filmmaker Award went to Feng Xiaogang, one of the most famous directors in China.






We are thrilled to support the young and upcoming Beijing International Film Festival for the second time in a row,” said Goris Verburg, Director Marketing & Communication of IWC Schaffhausen. He welcomed a wide range of celebrities to the exclusive “For the Love of Cinema” gala event, held in the grounds of the historic Imperial Ancestral Temple in Beijing. The internationally acclaimed actress and singer Zhou Xun (“Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress”, “Cloud Atlas”) walked the red carpet for the first time in her role as IWC Friend of the Brand. She was accompanied by her actor colleagues Du Juan, Ni Ni, Francis Ng, Zhang Liang and Liao Fan who won the Silver Bear for best actor at the Berlin International Film Festival 2014, as well as by film director Feng Xiaogang and famous writer Liu Zhen Yun. “We are delighted to be contributing to the internationalization, professionalism and global cultural exchange of film-making under the main theme of the festival ‘Share the Screen, Shape the Future’,” said Goris Verburg.

The Swiss luxury watch manufacturer introduced the IWC Filmmaker Award years ago with the aim of recognizing exceptional achievements in the film industry. Feng Xiaogang, one of the most renowned Chinese film directors and often dubbed “the Chinese answer to Steven Spielberg”, accepted the highly coveted award from IWC’s Director of Marketing & Communication in honour of his impressive work. “Feng Xiaogang is known for his innovation and is credited with introducing a new model in Chinese cinema with his ‘New Year’s Celebration films’,” said Goris Verburg, explaining IWC’s choice. “Although he is known for making comedies, he is open to stories with a tragic background. His films on war, natural disasters and famine are good examples of this. Feng is one of the best-known directors of mainstream cinema in China. It is a great honour for us to present him with this award.”




Film director Feng Xiaogang is presented with the IWC Filmmaker Award by IWC Director of Marketing and Communications Goris Verburg









Feng Xiaogang also received a Schaffhausen classic masterpiece – a Portuguese Automatic (Ref. IW500114) in stainless steel, with the engraving “For the Love of Cinema” on the reverse. This watch was meant to symbolize the fact that masterpieces in film and haute horlogerie have a lot in common and are the result of innovative technology, creativity and perfection. Last year’s recipient of the award and a specially engraved watch was Zhang Yimou, the Chinese film director and choreographer of the Olympics opening ceremony in 2008.

To celebrate the brand’s rich history and achievement in film, highlighting the excellence of craftsmanship that IWC watchmaking and the film industry both embody, the gala event continued with the spectacular drum performance from Beijing’s Red Poppy Ladies Percussion. The first female percussion group in China impressed the audience with aesthetics, power and a technically perfect performance. In 2008, this group caused a sensation at the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

The glittering evening came to an end with a private concert featuring the acclaimed Taiwanese singer-songwriter Chyi Chin, who captivated the audience with his soothing voice. The pioneer of Chinese pop, who has won numerous awards, brought his talent to the IWC gala event and enthralled the appreciative guests with a few popular songs.

IWC Schaffhausen is renowned not only for its luxury watches, but also for its long-standing passion for cinema and partnerships with numerous other international film festivals, including the Dubai International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and Zurich Film Festival. The Swiss watch manufacturer maintains well-established relationships with Hollywood stars such as Kevin Spacey, Cate Blanchett, Ewan McGregor and Marc Forster, as well as Chinese actors like Francis Ng, Julian Cheung and Anita Yuen. The company has also already been involved with numerous unique film, theatre and photography projects with many of these Friends of the Brand.




IWC Director of Marketing and Communications Goris Verburg, Actress Zhou Xun, IWC Managing Director Asia Pacific Benoit De Clerck
pose for photographs as Xun visits the IWC Beijing Parkview Green flagship store during the exclusive 'For the Love of Cinema' event




Zhou Xun visits the IWC Beijing Parkview Green flagship store






Film director Feng Xiaogang (R) is presented with the IWC Filmmaker Award by Chairman and CEO of MPA Chris Dodd



Chinese film director Feng Xiaogang, actress Ni Ni, actress Zhou Xun, and actor Liao Fan



Singer Qi Qin performs at the exclusive "For the Love of Cinema" event hosted by IWC Schaffhausen



Actor Francis Ng



Film director Feng Xiaogang (R) and his wife, actress Xu Fan




Press Release


This message has been edited by Kong on 2014-04-23 05:19:31

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