The 50th World Film Festival has been formally opened in Berlin. Gong Li, famous film star from China, serving as chairwomen of the International Judges Panel, has already been very much in the limelight.

With a speech delivered in her mother tongue she introduced her panel members and expressed gratitude to her hosts for such a great trust given to her. She said humorously that because of language differences interpreters have to be specially employed to do her words into English and German simultaneously, so she has to call herself jokingly as the "most expensive" staff member of the festival.

In Berlin there has arisen these days a "Gong Li heat". Large posters of Gong Li can be seen all around in Berlin's streets and on Berlin Daily, the largest medium of Berlin, describing her as a "strong daughter of China" on its front page.

"Beautiful Mother" is a film that has been starred by Gong Li. But it has to be listed among those on show for emulation instead of joining in as an award competitor because of the star's service as chairwoman of the judges panel of the festival.

A total of around 300 films from about 90 countries and regions will run on competitive show during the 50th Film Festival in Berlin. The Chinese film "My Parents" directed by Zhang Yimou and "A Dance Party Sometime" from Hong Kong will also be put on screen for competition during the film festival.