Movie director Feng leaves a lasting impression in Hollywood

Chinese film director Feng Xiaogang left his handprint in cement outside the TCL Chinese Theatre on Friday as groups of Chinese onlookers snapped photos of entertainment stars' names on the Avenue of Stars.

"Hollywood is a place of sunshine, beach, dreams coming true and endless creativity and innovation," Feng said at the ceremony. "I'm honored to join the people who have left their handprint at the theater."

Feng is the first Chinese film director to cement his hand and footprint at Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theatre. Formerly Grumman's Chinese Theatre and Mann's Chinese Theatre, it has been home to many movie premieres since 1927 as well as Academy Awards ceremonies.

Among the theater's most distinctive features are concrete blocks set in the forecourt, bearing the signatures, footprints and handprints of popular film personalities from the 1920s to the present.

Feng's handprint celebration inaugurated the three-day "Beijing Film Panorama in America" from Friday to Sunday. The TCL Theatre will screen several of his films with English subtitles throughout the festival.

The Beijing-born Feng is a highly successful and visionary film director whose comedic films have consistently topped box office charts in China over the last 20 years. He recently broke that mold by making drama or period drama films, such as the well-regarded Back to 1942, which was shown at the TCL theatre Friday afternoon.

Feng received a certificate of recognition from Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and the representative of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

"Los Angeles is the entertainment center of the world," Antonovich said. "The theater we're in today is very historic, beginning in 1927. Famous Hollywood stars, directors, producers left their handprint and signature at this facility, including Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Clint Eastwood, among others."

"The TCL Chinese Theater brings the world of entertainers together. China and the United States have a great partnership. We need to continue that and have more cooperation between us," he added.

Feng's actress wife Xu Fan and other entertainment stars, including Tang Guo-qiang, Zhang Guoli and Deng Jie, joined the celebration.