Lu Chuan's official film of Beijing 2022 set for release

The official film of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, directed by award-winning Chinese filmmaker Lu Chuan, has released its first poster and teaser. The film, announced by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG), will hit theaters in 2023.

The announcement was made on the first anniversary of the closing ceremony of Beijing 2022, which was held at the National Stadium in China's capital city on Feb. 20 last year. "Beijing 2022" will showcase behind-the-scenes stories, new details, challenges, and shining moments of international athletes, Olympic staff, venue building workers, technicians, volunteers, medical personnel, officials and opening and closing ceremonies performers. The film will focus on how the venues were built in Beijing and Zhangjiakou and athletes returning to the competition venues during an era marred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The film was in production for more than two and a half years. Lu and his team shot the film in various locations around the globe, including the US, France, Belgium and Austria, amassing materials and footage of more than 1,200 hours. The film is now in post-production. 

Meanwhile, as ScreenDaily.com reported on Monday, Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to the film and is launching sales in the European Film Market. The director hopes to "offer a window to people outside China to see a true impression of what is happening here and better understand life in Beijing."

Esteemed Chinese film director Zhang Yimou served as the executive producer of the film, as well as the chief director of the Beijing 2022 opening and closing ceremonies. China's cultural guru Zhang Heping, former chairman of the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles and former head of Beijing People's Art Theatre, served as the general consultant of the film to guide production. He also headed an expert advisory board for the film.

Lu had previously stated in an interview that he hopes to record Beijing 2022's most inspiring, exciting, and stunning moments, as well as all the participants' stories of humanity and the spark in human nature. "The most precious historical videos can be passed down to future generations, including us. They are not only precious historical resources for China but also for the world."

Lu Chuan, known for his award-winning films such as "Kekexili: Mountain Patrol," "City of Life and Death," and the Disneynature wildlife documentary "Born in China," now joins the list of accomplished international film directors who have contributed to a rich legacy of over 100 years of Olympic films. These cinematic experiences aim to convey a positive message about sportsmanship and the Olympic spirit among nations while also captivating fans of cinema, world history, and sports for generations to come. The Olympic Film Collection now comprises more than 50 feature-length films that offer a cinematic window into defining moments in the history of the modern Games.