'China is experiencing one of the greatest releases of energy the world has ever witnessed. It is the Wild West of the East. And just like the 20th century was the American century, the world will be more Chinese in the 21st century'

-PETER KAUFMAN

China is arguably the most interesting and dynamic country in the world today. As the Chinese race to wards the millennium and the full-scale capitalism (officially known as "socialism with Chinese characteristics"), this highly personal documentary by Peter Kaufman (narrated by his father Phil Kaufman) provides a superb, up-to-the-minute portrait of many colorful, paradoxical manifestations of Chinese new spirit - its "Wild East" energy echoing our own "Wild West" turbulence a century ago. - (Telluride Film Festival Guide 1995).

Peter Kaufman was born in Chicago in 1960. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Asian studies and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese.

He began working with his father, award-winning filmmaker Philip Kaufman, on such films as The Right Stuff and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. In 1990, he produced Henry & June. In 1993, he produced Rising Sun, a murder mystery involving a large Japanese corporation. China: The Wild East is Peter Kaufman's first film as writer/director.

In late 1999, he finished producing the film Quills, which was shot in and around London. The film stars Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Michael Caine and Joaquin Phoenix. In 2003, he produced Twisted starring Ashley Judd, Samuel L. Jackson and Andy Garcia. Twisted was shot entirely in San Francisco.

Filmography

TWISTED 2004 20th Century Fox

- Producer

- Starring Starring Ashley Judd, Samuel L. Jackson, Andy Garcia

QUILLS 2000 20th Century Fox

- Producer

- Starring Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Michael Caine and Joaquin Phoenix

CHINA: THE WILD EAST 1995 Turner Original Productions

- Written, directed and co-produced by Peter Kaufman

- Narrated by Philip Kaufman

THE RISING SUN 1993 20th Century Fox

- Producer

- Starring Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes

HENRY AND JUNE 1990, Universal

- Producer

- Starring Uma Thurman, Maria de Medeiros, Fred Ward and Kevin Spacey - Nominated for one Academy Award

THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING 1988 Orion

- Researcher and Assistant to the Director

- Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche and Lena Olin

- Nominated for two Academy Awards. Winner of numerous national and international awards.

THE RIGHT STUFF 1983 Warner Brothers

- Assistant to the Director

- Starring Sam Shepherd, Barbara Hershey, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Fred Ward, Dennis Quaid

- 8 Academy Award Nominations including Best Picture; winner of 4 Academy Awards and numerous national and international awards.

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