One of the most acclaimed and radiant names of contemporary classical music, Chinese-American Tan Dun, will attend the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The renowned composer and maestro will preface the special screening of the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) by Ang Lee, held on Wednesday November 5th, at 4pm, at John Cassavetes theater.
Tan Dun’s score, an inextricable part of the majestic puzzle of a film that became a smash box-office hit, garnered awards by the dozen, was cherished by the audience, and renewed the entire genre of the wuxia martial arts films, won both an Oscar and a Grammy Award, skyrocketing his fame amidst a wider audience.
Tan Dun’s presence at the 66th TIFF will not be contained in the presentation of the film that earned him both an Oscar and a Grammy, as the following day, he will give a concert on Thursday November 6th, at 8.30 pm, at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, bound to enchant the audience with his mesmerizing melodies. Tan Dun’s concert in Thessaloniki is hosted by the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra and the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, in collaboration with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Tan Dun’s repertoire, in addition to film scoring, includes operas, orchestral and chamber compositions, whereas he often integrates audiovisual elements into his compositions. His concert in Thessaloniki will continue this tradition, promising audiences a captivating and unforgettable experience.
The screening of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will also signal the kick-off of the beloved section Fundamentals of Cinema, a series of screenings held during the annual activity of the Festival, both in Thessaloniki and in Athens. This year’s version of Fundamentals of Cinema, bearing the title Fundamentals of Cinema: New Classics, will foreground contemporary gems of the 7th art, films shot in the end of the 20th century-beginning of the 21st century, destined to become a point of reference for both film theorists and cinephiles in the future. The full lineup of the section will be shortly announced, after the end of the Festival.
This year, the Festival is delighted to extend its collaboration with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, through the launching of a new award, the TSSO Award. The TSSO Award will be bestowed to the composer of a film taking part in the Festival’s official selection and scored with original orchestral music, offering the winner the chance to team up with the TSSO for the recording of a future OST. The TSSO Award jury members are: David Bruce, composer, Leo McFall, Principal Conductor, and Antonis Sousamoglou, Concertmaster Violinist.
