This weekend sees the official launch of the exciting Made in China Film Festival. Presented in conjunction with the UCD Confucius Institute, the event, which runs from September 19th to the 25th, will present an impressive array of both mainstream and more challenging movies.

“The kung fu flick tends to be overrepresented at Chinese film festivals,” says festival director Mike Ussher. “We thought up a programme that would allow a broader view of Chinese society while keeping audiences entertained.” The launch coincides with a visit from the mayor of Beijing as part of the official twinning of Dublin and Beijing. For further details see madeinchinafilm festival.com.

Irish peacekeepers doc expands

If you missed Brendan Culleton and Irina Maldea’s fascinating documentary Congo: An Irish Affair at one of the Access Cinema presentations, be aware that the film is opening in further commercial sites from next week. Catch Congo, which deals with the Irish army’s UN peacekeeping duties in the early 1960s, at SGC Cinemas in Leitrim and Roscommon, as well as the cineplex in Carrick-on-Shannon, from September 14th.

Dundalk’s Hard director

John Moore, the Dundalk- born director of Behind Enemy Lines and The Omen, has been selected to direct the fifth episode in the Die Hard franchise. Further rumours suggest that, yes, Bruce Willis will be back in his vest. There wouldn’t be much point without him.

Speech maker feeling misérable

Having won an Oscar for The King’s Speech – and made a surprising amount of money with the film – director Tom Hooper has his pick of projects. So Hooper’s apparent choice is an unusual one. Apparently, he has decided to finally drag the musical version of Les Misérables on to the big screen, with Anne Hathaway rumoured for the role of Fantine. The project certainly has visibility. But belated versions of international musical hits such as Evita and Phantom of the Opera didn’t fare well. True, Mamma Mia! was a smash, but the producers moved a little more quickly and, with all those Abba fans, the film had appeal beyond the stage-musical constituency. Get back to us in 2013 or so.

dclarke@irishtimes.com