The competition program opened on day two of the festival with Chinese director Lu Chuan's adventure epic "Kekexili; Mountain Patrol," about volunteer troops battling antelope poachers in the vast wilderness of Tibet. This was followed by Indian director Bharatbala's full-length feature "Hari Om" and four shorts.
South Korean director Kim Ki-duk presented his picture "3 Iron" (known to Korean audiences as "Empty House") in the out-of-competition Panorama program.
Films from 24 countries of Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas are taking part in this year's Pacific Meridian, to run through September 15. Its $105,000 in prize money is to be distributed among the filmmakers whose entries will be judged as best by the festival's international jury.
