Marco Mueller Links Up With Beijing International Film Festival

After confirming his exit from the Rome Film Festival this past October, where he served as festival head for three years, Marco Mueller announced he was going to focus more on academia and his role as a film professor. But sources close to Mueller knew it wouldn’t be long before he was snatched up by a young festival, most likely in Asia, where he has close ties.

Both Shanghai and Beijing film festivals have been courting Mueller, but the Beijing International Film Festival won out, and have announced him as their new chief advisor.

Widely respected for his critical taste and vast network, Mueller has served as head of Italy Pesaro Film Festival from 1982 to 1989, Rotterdam from 1989 to 1991, Locarno from 1992 to 2000, Venice from 2004 to 2011, and Rome from 2012 to 2014.

He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Serving as a festival head around Europe, he always worked to promote major Chinese works in his programming.

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Mueller is also an award-winning producer with 14 credits to his name. The 2002 Bosnian film No Man’s Land, took home the Oscar for best foreign language film. And Tropical Malady took home the Jury Prize in Cannes in 2004.

The Beijing Film Festival believes that Mueller’s appointment will help to promote Chinese films internationally. He is appointed to reform the current festival, which has great financial support, but until now has had lacked artistic direction. As in his previous roles, he will be expected to bring to Beijing a host of global film premieres and key talent.

The fifth edition of the Beijing film festival will run from April 16-23. French Director Luc Besson will chair the international jury at the upcoming fest.

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