Movies set for festival bonanza

With the Dragon Boat Festival around the corner, a bunch of movies are gearing up for box-office glory for the three-day holiday, which has become a lucrative season in recent years.

According to the China Film Distribution and Screening Association, a total of nine new movies will hit domestic theaters on June 21 and 22.

One of the most anticipated festival titles, One More Chance, led by Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat, premiered in Beijing on Sunday.

Chow, known for iconic director Ang Lee's Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, said he was drawn to join the project after being touched by the script and his character, a bragging gambler who put aside his past to take better care of his son.

"After An Autumn's Tale and All About Ah Long, I haven't acted in an arthouse film for a long time. I feel appreciated that Felix Chong has written such a heartfelt story," said Chow at the event.

The movie also marks the return of Chow, who has starred a series of genius-gambler-themed films such as the 1989 blockbuster God of Gamblers, to one of his most familiar zones.

Other forthcoming festival movies also include the suspense movie Lost in the Stars, the romance tale Love Never Ends, and Never Say Never, about a mixed martial arts trainer helping a group of rural children to pursue their sports dream.