Aftershock has created a backlog of new releases - including the new Shrek flick - waiting for the box office stampede created by Feng Xiaogang’s blockbuster to die down. In the meantime, here are a few events to keep you going and a couple of gossipy tidbits.

Last week we interviewed Peter Sallade, organizer of the 48 Hour Film Project, and last weekend the various crews embarked on their two days of filmmaking around Beijing. Tonight you can see the results of their labor up at 798’s UCCA, where they’ll be screening the films from 6.30pm. Entry is RMB 15/10 (students).

Up at BC MOMA, Jia Zhangke’s wonderful new documentary about Shanghai, I Wish I Knew, is screening until the end of August. The film has English subtitles – full screening schedule here.

BC MOMA also has a Charlie Chaplin festival later this month, kicking off on Friday, August 13. Many of the screenings will be outdoors in the MOMA complex – which will be great if the current nice weather keeps up. We’ll have full details of the festival on the Beijinger blog next week.

The aforementioned Aftershock continues to play around town, in both IMAX and regular 35mm versions. You can read my review of the film here. As far as we can tell the film is screening everywhere with English subtitles – BC MOMA, Sanlitun Mega Box and all the IMAX venues definitely have subtitled prints.

Feng Xiaogang’s blockbuster pulled in more than RMB 200 million in its first week, so it’s well on the way to being China’s biggest domestic box office hit this year. According to the Global Times, a raft of local and foreign titles have been held back following its release, which means “a total 27 movies – including Shrek Forever After – will be released this month,” once Aftershock-mania has died down. At the moment Shrek Forever After is slated to open on August 16.

While we’re on the subject of Aftershock, the Southern Metropolis Daily recently reported that one of the film’s stars, well known actress Zhang Jingchu, has been lying about her age. A post on this site says, “When the Central Academy of Drama actress first started making a name for herself she was referred to as the ‘Small (or younger) Zhang Ziyi,’ because she was said to look much the same.” Zhang Ziyi was born in 1979, while Zhang Jingchu claimed she was born in 1980. However, it seems she was actually born in 1977, which I guess makes her the big Zhang Ziyi. Or perhaps Zhang Ziyi is the small Zhang Jingchu?

Shanghaiist reported earlier this week that Christopher Nolan's Inception has been cleared for release in China, and the film is rumored to be opening on Chinese screens in September – which will give us all something to do during the crazy September/October holidays. Nolan made a big name for himself with Memento back in 2000, and Inception has been a huge critical and box office hit in the US. And yes, it will be released in China in an IMAX version.

Finally, regular readers of Screen Time will know I’m a big Tang Wei fan. I recently managed to pick up an English-subtitled DVD of her first Hong Kong flick Crossing Hennessy, which opened the Hong Kong International Film Festival earlier this year. It’s a pretty light romance, but it’s worth checking out if you’re in that kind of mood. It was clearly a safe choice for Tang following the controversy surrounding her role in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution, which saw her barred from mainland screens.

The Chinese press reported her possible return to more serious fare earlier this week (check out Danwei’s English-language summary here), with the announcement that director Wang Quan’an will be bringing the novel White Deer Plain, by Shaanxi writer Chen Zhongshi, to the big screen. Wang apparently wants Tang Wei in a lead role.

Wang directed Apart, Together, which was also at the Hong Kong Film Festival earlier this year and went on to win a prize at Berlin. The Danwei post on White Deer Plain says, “The novel is about three generations of peasants in Bailu Village, Shaanxi, and subsequently outlines the development in rural peasants’ lives.”