CHINA is to be present in force at an Asian film festival in France next week, showing four of the nine films in competition, according to organisers Friday.

The movies "Father" by director Lou Jian, "All the Way" by Shi Runjiu and "The Marriage Certificate" by Huang Jianxin will be representing the mainland at the event to be held in Deauville next Thursday to Sunday, while "Peony Pavilionun" by Yonfan will front for Hong Kong.

They will be competing against "Failan" by South Korean director Song Hae-Sung, "Whispering Sands" by Indonesia's Nan T. Achnas, "A Woman's Work" by Japan's Kentaro Otani, "Deathrow" by the Philippines' Joel Lamangan and "The Rule of the Game" by Taiwan's Ho Ping.

The festival will also pay cinematic homage to directors Shin Sang-ok from South Korea -- who is also president of this year's jury -- and Johnnie To from Hong Kong.

Top Chinese actress Karen Mok, who starred in "All the Way", and rising Japanese performer Asak Seto, who is in "A Woman's Work", will add glamour to the festival, which is to close with Lotus prizes honouring the best film, best director, best actor, best acress, best script, best photography and public's choice.

Another 30 films are to be screened outside of the competition.