The 19th annual Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival opened Tuesday night, October 12, with a lackluster reception in Jiangyin, east China's Jiangsu Province.

Media predictions became a reality when a number of nominees, including Zhou Xun and Fan Bingbing, failed to show up. Simon Yam, Anita Yuen and Peter Ho were among the few famous faces at the opening show.

The festival was once a major platform for Chinese directors to promote their films. However, upcoming releases such as Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly and Chen Kaige's Sacrifice, didn't send representatives to this year's event.

Kang Jianmin, director of the festival's organizing committee, told M1905.com that the festival has changed its focus to promoting small and low-budget films.

The festival will conclude on October 16 with a ceremony to honor films, directors and actors selected by the public. Zhang Ziyi has been confirmed to be a co-host.

(CRIENGLISH.com October 13, 2010)