The 'Overseas Chinese film festival' is the first film festival organized by the Scotland-China Association and takes place in Glasgow from 19 October to 9 November. The festival aims to promote the work of new Chinese-British Film makers and highlights several new and rarely seen films such as "Lemon Crush" by Shane O'Sullivan and "Chinese Whispers" by David Yip. Started in the early 1960's the Scotland-China Association is a part of a larger friendship society that aims to build closer links with China. Dimsum caught up with François Josserand, the Secretary of the Glasgow Branch of the SCA, to find out more about the organizations aspirations for the festival.

François Josserand isn't the obvious candidate for the Scotland – China Association. French by birth, François studied for a year in Italy and at the LSE in London. Here, amongst so many international students he felt unable to get a real grasp of British life and culture. Eventually he moved to Glasgow in the hope of loosing his accent and experiencing true 'British-ness'. François joined the SCA after his marriage to his Singapore Chinese wife to meet people with similar interests as himself.

The SCA was originally founded as a friendship association between Scotland and China. It is the Scottish counterpart to England's SACU (Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding). Thus the association has always attracted very diverse members, ranging from academics, pro-communist supporters, first generation Chinese that fled Shanghai in the 1930's and recently, second generation British Chinese.

The theme of the festival is the 'Chinese Diaspora' focusing particularly on the experience of Chinese people living in the UK. The festival will be the first in the UK to be entirely devoted to new British-Chinese cinema. The festival combines the work of a diverse cross section of filmmakers, artists and actors from different nationalities and backgrounds.

François confesses that the Overseas Chinese Film festival came about as a result of a very gradual process. One and a half years ago, when they initially discussed the idea of a Chinese film festival, it was intended as a format extending beyond their usual remit of slide shows and guided tours. Given the variety of genres in Chinese cinema, however, it proved to be difficult to decide on one theme that would be appreciated by all their members.

The SCA recognised that cinema of the Chinese Diaspora would extend its appeal to both first and second generation local Chinese, as well as to the recent influx of overseas South East Asian students. The films are also intended to attract the local population and be accessible to Glaswegians, encouraging them to see Chinese people and culture in a different light.

Focusing on British Chinese cinema, has proved to be a lot harder than they initially thought. François says that it seemed impossible at first: 'British Chinese cinema is really in its infancy'. Unlike the more established American and Australian Chinese film genres, British Chinese cinema remains a disparate and fragmented affair. He believes that for this festival they have had to dig very hard to finally uncover British Chinese films made in the last ten years.

Attaining free film distribution was found to be particularly difficult and they were often hindered by bureaucracy that François feels is 'endemic in the film industry'. The fact that the SCA is a friendship society rather than a community organisation, also gave rise to questions about their political motivations. François admits that if the Glasgow Committee of the SCA has realised how much work would have to be put into organising the Film Season, perhaps they would have thought twice about it!

Nevertheless, the SCA believe that they received invaluable help from many individuals in the film industry who provided priceless advice. The festival was also realised thanks to a grant from the "Awards for All" grants programme, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Scottish Screen and Glasgow City Council. There was also sponsorship from some of Glasgow's Chinese businesses (Uniprint Print and Design, Chung Ying Cash and Carry and the Bléu Ginger Restaurant).

François hopes the event will enable the British Born Chinese audience to take away a stronger sense of identity and realise that there are other people that share and understand their experiences. He also hopes that the local Glaswegians will benefit from the festival and appreciate that there are 'real people behind those takeaway counters, people with lives, aspirations and emotions like everyone else'.

Glasgow has a large Asian and SE Asian community and a local diversity strengthened by the presence of a large University. As a French man married to a Singaporean woman, François feels that he's always been comfortable and well received there. He says,'It's not just a cliché. Glaswegians are immensely friendly. When I first arrived here, I thought everyone knew each other, as they all talked to each other! It is true that the city has gone through a lot of hardship but people have developed a very strong (and very dark) sense of humour as a sort of survival mechanism.'

François sees this festival as his chance to give back something to the community in which he feels accepted and loved. In contrast 'to the recent unhelpful declarations made by British politicians' that remind François so much of current French politics, this positive amalgamation of cultures encapsulates to him what is British. 'It has encouraged me to swear the oath of allegiance, when I become entitled to next year!'

www.scot-china.org