Shanghai film festival incubates future hits

By Zhang Rui
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, June 21, 2021
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On June 15, the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival - SIFF PROJECT highlighted several film projects that it believes will shine in the future.

The selecting jury and SIFF PROJECT winners pose for a group photo during the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 15, 2021. [Photo courtesy of SIFF]

The four-day event ended with a list of features that cinephiles will want to look out for in the coming months, including winner of the Young Director Project, "Seven Days in Late Spring," directed by Yuan Yuan; winner of the recommended creative project, "The Sleepless Girl," directed by Zhang Fanxi; winner of the specially recommended project, "The Man Who Fought Ali," directed by Tang Chengqin; winner of the recommended work in progress, "One Day Tour," directed by Chen Yanqi; and winner of the specially mentioned work in progress, "Starlight Moment," directed by Liu Quanwen.

Filmmaker Chen Kuo-fu served as the chairperson of this year's SIFF PROJECT selecting jury, while screenwriter Dong Runnian and film producer Wang Yibing served as jury members.

Regarding Yuan Yuan's "Seven Days in Late Spring," the jury stated that "the creator adeptly combines private narrative with a large number of genre elements." Meanwhile, they called Zhang Fanxi's "The Sleepless Girl" "creatively unique," and Tang Chengqin's "The Man Who Fought Ali" as "a movie project that the market expects and needs."

This SIFF PROJECT received a total of 324 valid project applications, which were whittled down to 31 shortlisted projects. The works spanned a wide range of subject matters and have already been met with an enthusiastic response from the film market. During the event, a total of 645 negotiations were completed and three rounds of "Work in Progress Projects" test screenings were organized.

Founded in 2007, the SIFF PROJECT is an influential film financing event in Asia. As both an incubator of excellent works and an important platform for the industry to discover new Chinese talents, the SIFF PROJECT is committed to pooling industry resources to support rising Chinese filmmakers and promote Sino-foreign cooperation.

Five partners in this year's SIFF PROJECT, including Tencent Pictures and Maoyan Pictures, participated in the film selection process and will provide further funding support and production services. 

Since its founding, the SIFF PROJECT has seen 82 of its related films enter production, 62 films participate in major domestic and foreign film festivals, and 40 films appear at Category A film festivals. Three completed SIFF PROJECT films are due to be unveiled at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival: "Remainder" directed by Na Jiazuo, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" directed by Wen Shipei, and "Ripples of Life" directed by Wei Shujun.

Additionally, five SIFF PROJECT projects from previous years returned to this year's Shanghai International Film Festival: "Manchurian Tiger," directed by Geng Jun, which was shortlisted for the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards; "Hot Soup," directed by Zhang Ming, which appeared in the "Famous Director's New Works" screening unit; "Anima" by Cao Jinling, which was the opening film and a finalist of the Belt and Road Film Week; and "Fish Under the Ice," directed by Zhang Li, which participated in the "Chinese New Style" screening unit. Finally, director Zhang Meng's classic "The Piano in a Factory," which won the "Most Innovative Project" at SIFF PROJECT 2009, featured under this year's "Film History Recommendation" screening unit, playing to nostalgic fans.

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