Seediq Bale part one premieres in Taiwan

Japanese actress Chie Tanaka, who rose to stardom after leading the Taiwan romantic hit Cape No 7 in 2008, works with director Wei Te-sheng again in the historic epic Seediq Bale, literally "A Real Man".

The four-hour film, depicting Taiwan province aboriginal tribe member Seediq's fight against Japanese rulers in the 1930s, premiered in Taiwan earlier this month with its first part. The second part will hit Taiwan theaters on Sept 30.

Tanaka plays a Japanese woman in the film, wearing vintage kimonos she bought from Japan herself.

The film competed at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, which ended on Sept 10, but did not win any award.

Feng Xiaogang leads the pack at Golden Rooster

Mainland director Feng Xiaogang's Aftershock, dealing with the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in China, won nine nominations at the upcoming Golden Rooster Awards, known as the mainland's Academy Awards.

The film has been nominated for best film, director and leading actress, among others.

Some small-budget films won the judges' favor, too, such as Zhang Meng's Piano in a Factory, acclaimed for its portrayal of a loving father who makes a piano to win over his daughter during his divorce. It was nominated for best leading actor, actress, film, director and scriptwriter.

Star-studded Founding of a Republic won just one nomination for best recording.

The event will kick off in Hefei, capital of Anhui province on Oct 19 and last four days.

Composing China inspires international composers

Five international composers - Kalevi Aho, Michael Gordon, Robin Holloway, Augusta Read Thomas and Sebastian Currier -are touring the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and the provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou from Sept 11 to 23 to learn about China's natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Commissioned by the National Center for the Performing Arts of China (NCPA) and a number of other international organizations, they will compose musical works after being inspired by their trip to China. The works are due in August 2012 and will be performed at two concerts, titled Composing China in October 2012 at NCPA.

Since its founding in 2007, the center has commissioned music works from a number of Chinese composers, such as Ye Xiaogang and Guo Wenjing. Composing China is an effort by the center to build an international repertory themed on China.