Vancouver Film School in venture in Shanghai

A film school offering training in movie production, visual effects, sound and 3D animation is being launched by the Shanghai University and the Vancouver Film School.

The Shanghai Vancouver Film School will help create a film post-production cluster in Zhabei District, officials said yesterday at the 17th Shanghai International Film Festival.

Enrollment will begin in the fall, with around 100 students at the school at the Zhabei International Film and Television Park.

According to Luo Hongjie, president of Shanghai University, the project will feature the same one-year training programs offered by Vancouver Film School.

"We also plan to establish Zhabei International Film and Television Park to build Shanghai Vancouver Film School into a base for global film post-production," Luo said.

"The park will attract global enterprises in filmmaking animation, games and digital media," added Luo.

Meanwhile, IMAX movies are set to feature prominently at the festival, which opened on Saturday, with IMAX Corp bringing IMAX versions of nine movies, including "Super 8" and "Born to be Wild."

Officials from the company revealed that they are working with Chinese director Jiang Wen to present an IMAX version of his forthcoming movie "Gone with the Bullets."

A highlight of yesterday's festival program was a screening of a restored high-definition digital version of "The Goddess," a 1930s film starring actress Ruan Lingyu, at the Shanghai Film Museum.

It was accompanied by a live orchestra playing a newly commissioned score.

Another movie starring Ruan — "Love and Obligation" — will also feature in the festival.