Director's Focus: Bruce Beresford

An Academy Award-nominated Australian director, Bruce Beresford found widespread critical success with the film "Breaker Morant" in 1980 before going on to direct Robert Duvall in "Tender Mercies". Released in 1983, it earned Beresford an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Another of his films "Driving Miss Daisy", starring Morgan Freeman, won four Oscars, including Best Picture in 1990. It was nominated for another five awards. His latest film, "Mao's Last Dancer", will open the 23rd Singapore International Film Festival on 15 April 2010.

As a tribute to Beresford's body of work, the festival will be screening "Breaker Morant", "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Paradise Road", starring Glenn Close, Frances McDormand and Cate Blanchett.

"I am very proud and flattered that my new film, "Mao's Last Dancer", is to be shown at the 23rd Singapore International Film Festival, along with three of my earlier films, "Breaker Morant" (1980), "Driving Miss Daisy" (1990) and "Paradise Road" (1996). All three had considerable acclaim at the time of their release, and I hope that the passing of time hasn't turned them into quaint period pieces! "Mao's Last Dancer" is based on the autobiography of the celebrated Chinese ballet dancer, Li Cunxin, and was filmed in China, the United States and Australia. A brilliant young Chinese dancer, Chi Chao, now with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, plays Li Cunxin in the film." --- Bruce Beresford