BEIJING, Sept. 14 -- As the deadline for Oscar applications approaches, it is finally clear that three Chinese films "Lust, Caution," "The Warlords" and "The Sun Also Rises" will all be bidding for a golden Oscar statuette.

Fresh Golden Lion winner "Lust, Caution," critics say, perhaps weighs heavier as a result of Ang Lee's directorial talent than Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Tang Wei's acting. It is possible that Lee will also pick up a second win for best foreign language film.

Hong Kong director Peter Chan's ancient kung-fu epic "The Warlords," starring Andy Lau and Jet Li, is now under final production and will be screened for seven days at the end of September, to meet the Oscar requirements. Venice Film Festival president Marco Muller spoke highly of the film after watching its six-minute trailer during the festival.

Mainland director Jiang Wen's third directorial work, "The Sun Also Rises," also boasts a stellar cast, including Joan Chen, Anthony Wong and Jaycee Chan. Despite receiving no awards in Venice, promotion for the film has not stopped, and it will be in Chinese theaters this Friday.

Among their Asian competitors, one of the most noteworthy is South Korea's "Milyang," or "Secret Sunshine." The Korean Film Council announced Tuesday that the romance beat "May 18" and "Breath" to join the selection. Actress Jeon Do-yeon won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival this May, for her role in the film.

This year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will investigate a new method of choosing nominations for best foreign language film. A shortlist of films will be chosen by a Los Angeles-based screening committee that has traditionally viewed the 60-odd submissions. That shortlist will then be screened by a second committee to draw up a final list of nominations.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/