Beijing’s vision fuels fest with magic
Capital showcase reflects dedication to cultural development
The 14th Beijing International Film Festival, which started on April 18 and ended on April 26, has attracted globally excellent filmmakers and film works and hosted more than 100 diverse activities, involving the Tiantan Award, screening, forums and ventures.
The Tiantan Award receives film submissions from various countries and regions around the world every year, with the number continually reaching new highs — 889 films in 2021, 1,450 in 2022, 1,488 in 2023, and this year, it received 1,509 film submissions, with 1,318 of them coming from outside China, accounting for more than 87 percent.
These films cover a wide range of genres and diverse themes, including the latest works from globally renowned directors as well as surprising pieces from emerging filmmakers. Many of them had their premiere at the festival.
The Project Pitches of the Beijing Film Market, a highlight activity of the 14th Beijing International Film Festival, announced the honors list of 21 films on April 20.
Selected from 769 entries, the winners included romantic movie The Man Without Desire, suspense film Make Me Up and biopics Tung Hwa Football Club and Listening to Arrows.
The activity is committed to discovering filmmaking talents and excellent Chinese films in various genres, and offering quality film projects a comprehensive transaction platform integrating investment, production, marketing and distribution, said organizers.
Beijing regards the film and television industry as a key component of its cultural development, Yin Yong, mayor of the capital, said at the opening ceremony on April 18.
The city is endeavoring to foster enterprises’ innovation growth, improve supportive policies and enhance talent services to create a more open, dynamic and professional environment for global filmmakers, Yin said.
There are currently more than 20,000 registered film and television enterprises in Beijing, which accounts for 40 percent of the nation’s total, as well as 313 cinemas and 2,271 screens. During the first quarter of this year, the capital recorded a combined box office revenue of about 700 million yuan ($96.62 million), ranking first among cities nationwide.
Beijing has become a fertile hotbed of the film and TV industry, a “highland” for talents in the industry and a perfect place for filmmaking, the mayor said.
Established in Beijing’s Huairou district in 2006, the China (Huairou) film and television base, has become a filmmaking center and a popular tourist attraction.
In 2017, a general city plan for Beijing’s development between 2016 and 2035 was released, outlining the capital’s aim to be strategically positioned as the “four centers” for politics, culture, international exchanges and scientific and technological innovation.
The 14th BIFF has also made impressive progress in internationalization, with more than 87 percent of feature-length movie submissions from abroad, said Huo Zhijing, vicechairman of the BIFF organizing committee.
The diplomat film season was introduced this year to boost international exchanges and cultural cooperation. Brazil was invited to serve as the guest country of honor to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Brazil diplomatic relations, and four Brazilian movies are being screened during the festival.
“There is no better medium than film to help people of two countries learn about each other and promote cultural exchanges,” Cassius Rosa, Brazil’s vice-minister of culture, said on the sidelines of the 14th BIFF, adding his country hopes to bring more Brazilian movies to China and see more Chinese films in the Brazilian market.
As one of the highlights drawing movie fans, more than 250 Chinese and foreign films were shown in some theaters in Beijing, neighboring Tianjin city and Hebei province, including such masterpieces such as The Story of Qiu Ju by iconic Chinese director Zhang Yimou, the Japanese animated production Perfect Blue by Satoshi Kon, and American sci-fi thriller Blade Runner 2049.
As well, the festival included four major forums focusing on industrial trends, digital technologies, creation, and investment, respectively. During the industry forum held April 21, Chinese veteran director Huang Jianxin described technology as the backbone and the driving force of the film industry, encouraging filmmakers to embrace artificial intelligence.