VENICE RUMORS A-PLENTY

Everyone's trying to game the Venice Film Festival's line-up and a sharp-eyed reader is translating and sending in the news that's making it into the Chinese language press.

- Ann Hui has submitted her Chow Yun-fat film, THE AUNT'S POSTMODERN LIFE to the selection committee.

- Gu Changwei (PEACOCK) seems to think his latest movie won't be ready in time for submission

- Johnnie To is in a position to submit both EXILED and THE SPARROW (his pickpocket flick) to Venice, but although Screendaily reports that both movies are wrapped, the Chinese press says both are still shooting. This is pretty typical of To: he shoots so many movies at the same time that it's difficult to know if one if done yet or not.