Veteran filmmaker Xie Fei appointed Pingyao festival mentor

Veteran Chinese filmmaker Xie Fei was recently made a mentor of the 3rd Pingyao International Film Festival, in an appointment organizers said would further nurture the development of young filmmakers through his influence. 

"Young people have encountered the best era to make movies. I hope that they will be bold enough to create their first works," Xie told a video made for the film festival. 

"In addition, their internal strength in fields including literature, arts and music, needs to be improved so they become a true filmmaker when making valuable works," Xie added. 

As a mentor to young filmmakers, Xie will select one film he shot to be screened during the festival, which will be held in the Ancient City of Pingyao from Oct 10-19. 

In addition, during a festival master class he will confer with filmmakers and the audience on the cultivation of young film directors. 

Born in Yan'an in Shaanxi province in 1942, Xie is a director, producer, screenwriter and educator. 

He has won many international awards including Golden and Silver Bear awards and a lifetime achievement award. Xie, 77 -- who has guided a raft of excellent students including noted directors Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Zhang Yimou and Jia Zhangke -- is still teaching and working as a consultant for young filmmakers.