Beijing/Schaffhausen, 21 April 2014 – IWC Schaffhausen reaffirms its passion for film-making 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”. Among the invitees were actors Francis Ng, Du Juan, Ni Ni, Liao Fan, Zhang Liang, writer Liu Zhen Yun, as well as actress Zhou Xun, who today was announced as a new Friend of the Brand. 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’,” sa d Goris Verburg.
FENG XIAOGANG RECEIVES AWARD
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 bestknown directors of mainstream cinema in China. It is a great honour for us to present him with this award.”
AN IWC WATCH FOR THE WINNER
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.
A GLITTERING EVENING
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.
THE LOVE OF CINEMA
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.
