China has struggled to get viewers back into cinemas this week, but the Shanghai Intl.
Film Festival (Siff) has found a way to break through: screen all eight of the “Harry Potter” franchise films in a row, with limited seating due to Covid-19 distancing measures, and watch the public duke it out for the privilege to attend.They must be doing something right in their selection, however: the festival sold 108,000 tickets in the first ten minutes of online sales.
That contrasted with only slow box office in commercial cinemas which resumed operating on Monday.Siff is set to run July 25 to Aug.
2 with an eclectic selection shown in a mix of screenings with a live audience, outdoor viewings and online streaming.More than 400 films will screen in 29 designated cinemas, including Jordan Peele’s “Us,” a 4K restoration of “Apocalypse Now,” and “1917,” the only studio film new to Chinese audiences among the various offerings.
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