The 12th Shanghai International Film Festival, which is scheduled to run from June 13 to 21, will open with director He Ping's historical action drama "Wheat."

The director and his cast members including Fan Bingbing, Huang Jue and Wang Zhiwen will attend a press conference on June 12, the festival organizers said.

Nationwide release date will be announced at the press conference.

"Wheat" is He Ping's first film in six years after his 2003 adventure film "Warriors of Heaven and Earth." The story is set against the backdrop of the decisive battle of Changping (260 B.C.) during the Warring States Period in ancient China.

It was produced on a budget of US$6 million by Xi'an Film Studio, Beijing Polybona and He's own company Beijing Classic Culture, according to an early report in Variety Asia.

(CRIENGLISH.com June 8, 2009)