Beijing film fest expects to set new records
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 15, 2014
The 4th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) is expected to set new records in terms of the sheer scale of exhibitors and contract signing projects, as well as activities and quality, organizers said on Monday.
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| A press conference is held at Beijing Hotel before the opening of the 4th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF). [Zhang Rui/China.org.cn] |
"The number of participating exhibitors in this year's Beijing Film Market has reached 248, an increase of 20 percent; while the number of international exhibitors has increased to 125, exceeding the number of domestic exhibitors for the first time," said Zhao Zhiyong, executive deputy secretary general of the BJIFF organizing committee.
As for the contract signing projects, the contract amount makes for an important indicator of the film market vitality. The projects concentrate on film funding, film base construction and film investment programs, with the contract amount expected to exceed 10 billion, he said.
The press conference held at Beijing Hotel briefed attendants about the film festival and its newly increased activities. Themed "Share the Screen, Shape the Future," the 4th BJIFF adheres to an international, professional, innovative, high-end and market-oriented development ideology.
According to the organizing committee, various activities have been arranged. Apart from the seven themed activities held during the previous sessions, including the Tiantan Award Competition, Opening Ceremony, Beijing Film Panorama, Beijing Forum, Beijing Film Market, Film Carnival, Closing & Awards Ceremony, four new units have been added this year, which are New Focus, "Forward Future" International Screening Unit, Documentary and Micro Film Unit. A series of activities is set up for each of the 11 units. For example, Beijing Film Market includes six blocks and 25 activities, including Exhibition, Project Pitches, Industry Forum, Events & Activities, Contract Signing Ceremony and Market Screenings.
In the "Forward Future" International Screening Unit, 13 activities are on offer, including the Screening Opening Ceremony, Film Festival, Forum and Fan Meeting. In addition, the Beijing Film Panorama will host eight country-specific film festivals, including France, Germany, UK and Russia, as well as projecting the film works by the Jury chairman. More than 260 screening films will be projected some 600 times. It's expected that more than 800 Chinese and international film organizations and over 3000 guests will attend the 4th BJIFF. More than 110 activities will be held, attracting more than 1 million visitors.
John Woo, the famous Chinese director, is invited to act as chairman of the International Jury for the Tiantan Award. Other members of the International Jury are Andrés Vicente Gómez, one of the most respected producers in all of Europe; famous Irish director, scriptwriter and actor Jim Sheridan; famous Chinese director, scriptwriter and executive producer Lu Chuan; famous Italian actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta; famous French director, scriptwriter and producer Philippe Muyl; and famous Indian director and scriptwriter Rajkumar Hirani.
Since September 2013, 837 films from 88 countries and regions across six continents have registered to compete for the Tiantan Award, including 682 international films and 155 Chinese films. After three selection rounds, 15 entries advanced to the Competition Section. These 15 films will be short-listed for the Tiantan Award. Among them, 13 are from foreign countries or regions. They are as follows:
"A Promise" presented by French director Patrice Leconte, "Attila Marcel" presented by French director Sylvain Chomet, "Carmen" directed by Romanian director Doru Nitescu, Serbian film "Circles," "Hope" presented by South Korean director Lee Jun-ik, the Singaporean film "Ilo Ilo," "In Bloom," a result of the cooperation between Georgian director Nana Ekvtimishvili and German director Simon Gross, the Dutch film "Matterhorn" presented by director Diederik Ebbinge, "Siddharth" presented by director Richie Mehta and jointly produced by India and Canada, "The Enemy Within" presented by Greek director Yorgos Tsemberopoulos, "The Rocket" presented by Australian director Kim Mordaunt, "Third Person of Belgium" presented by Canadian director Paul Haggis, "Zoran, My Nephew the Idiot" presented by director Matteo Oleotto and jointly produced by Italy and Slovenia. There are also two Chinese films on the list: "The Grandmaster" directed by Wong Kar-Wai and "American Dreams in China" directed by Peter Chan.
Beijing Film Panorama has received 1520 film registrations from 79 countries and regions across six continents, including 1,127 international films and 393 Chinese films. These films widely vary in genre and style. Most of them haven't been projected in China before. Some films are in fact award-winners from other famous international film festivals held in the past two years. Both film quality and quantity have been improved compared to the previous two sessions. Additionally, 17 leading directors, producers and corporate operating officers and experts from Russia, the United States, France, the UK and China’s Taiwan have been invited to attend three film forums.
Meanwhile, the American Film Institute will for the first time join hands with Beijing Film Market to hold a "Hollywood Movie Master Class" during the film festival, which will invite film industry experts and film masters from the United States and other places to speak to young Chinese filmmakers and share their valuable experiences. The "Hollywood Movie Master Class" will invite Carlos Saldanha, director of “Rio 2”; Christopher Dodd, chairman and CEO of the American Film Institute; Frederick Huntsberry, global COO of Paramount Pictures Inc.; and several other industry veterans.
The 4th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) will for the first time set up a Documentary section, which contains four units: submissions review & recommendation, outstanding works screening, forum, salon and activities. Adhering to the submission principle of the diversity of nations, subjects and styles, a total of 435 entries from 20 countries and regions was received. After two assessment rounds, 29 entries have made onto the short list. During the 4th BJIFF, the International Panel comprising experts in the field of documentary film, from China, the UK, Canada and Australia, will cast their votes for one or two "Expert Panel Especially Recommended Works" and six to eight "Expert Panel Recommended Works" from the total pool of 29 documentaries.
The 4th Beijing International Film Festival will be held in Beijing from Apr. 16 to 23, 2014.
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