20 December 2013. Beijing: China Heavyweight, a feature documentary film by award winning director Yung Chang, will debut today on more than 300 big screens across China. According to state media Global Times, the film will be “the most widely-screened documentary in Chinese history.”
China Heavyweight tells the story of Coach Qi Mo Xiang, a 36-year old boxing veteran who recruits underprivileged youth and trains them to become national champions. Determined to be a role model for his students, Coach Qi decided to return to the ring for honor and integrity.
Photo:Screening at Beijing Film Academy. Provided by Han Yi.
Prior to the film’s nationwide release, Chang, joined by Coach Qi and China producer Han Yi, pre-screened the film in 13 cities spanning Chengdu, Guangzhou and Beijing. All 13 pre-screenings sold out, drawing a full house of emotionally engaged viewers.
Chang said: “Promoting China Heavyweight in 13 cities in advance of our December 20th wide-release was an unforgettable experience. Audiences were emotionally moved by the narrative story and were excited to see a film that evoked feelings about their own lives. Sharing this film with audiences proved to me that there is an audience in China for documentary films to be seen on the big screen and that there is a growing demand for this kind of content.”
Coach Qi, who took leave from his boxing school to join the tour, said: “I am actually a bit surprised that so many people showed up at our screenings. I am deeply moved by their support. This experience will keep me going.”
Qi added: “Boxing has taught me three things about life: face reality, learn from failure, and never give up.”
Han Yi, China producer, said: “We are not trying to compete with other commercial films during the year-end holiday season. We simply would like to offer one more choice to moviegoers. We believe they deserve a more enriched, diversified movie experience.”
During the pre-screening period, China Heavyweight quickly generated impressive positive word-of-mouth on Chinese social media, where it was voted as “one of the eight most expected films at year-end 2013”. The film has also generated over 225 third-party reviews on Douban.com. VICE China called it “a film that nobody should miss.”
Aiming to continue its on-going momentum, the China Heavyweight crew hopes the film’s nationwide release will open a new chapter of documentary film in China.
China Heavyweight is also the last film the late Peter Wintonick helped to produce, and its status and success represents the culmination of a series of films and efforts which have pioneered the rise of documentary cinema in China and Canada-China collaboration in this regard.
Please see screening information here: http://site.douban.com/211516/
Press inquiry: olivia.fang@ogilvy.com
