The sparkling stars on the shore of Yanqi Lake, the crowds of people in the "Beijing Market", the applause and cheers of the open-air screening, and the exchange of views of the industry forum...... In this spring, the 14th Beijing International Film Festival, which has just ended, has created a dazzling urban cultural landscape with 9 days and more than 100 activities. With the theme of "Mutual Learning of Light and Shadow, Mutual Benefit", this year's Beijing Film Festival has made further progress in professionalism, participation and internationalization, and has also created many "firsts" to inject new momentum into world films.
After 14 years, the Beijing Film Festival has grown into an important carrier to promote the construction of a national cultural center, the construction of a film power and the "going out" of Chinese films, an open window to enhance global film cultural exchanges and interactions, and another beautiful "business card" presented by Beijing to the world.
Many filmmakers have become associated with the "Temple of Heaven Award".
"In 2018, I came to the Beijing Film Festival with the script of my first film "Spring River Plumbing". Prior to this, the film had been unable to find funds and could not complete the shooting, but I didn't expect to win the grand prize at the Beijing Film Festival Venture Capital, which was recognized by many investors, and I got financing on the spot and finally completed the film. Without the help of the Beijing Film Festival, there would be no "Spring River Plumbing". At the opening ceremony of this year's Beijing International Film Festival, young director Gu Xiaogang told about his fate with the Beijing Film Festival. The Beijing Film Festival started his film road that year, and now he is "going home" with his new film "Grass and Trees", which is also the opening film of this year's Beijing Film Festival. In addition, Gu Xiaogang also directed the main promotional film "Spring Dawn in the Ancient Capital" for this year's Beijing Film Festival, and served as a judge of the "Focus on the Future" unit.
In recent years, the Beijing Film Festival has supported new film talents and shown the achievements of film art, and Gu Xiaogang is by no means alone. In the past two years, there are many crews and filmmakers who have been associated with the Beijing Film Festival, such as Lebanese director Nadine Labaki was a judge of the "Temple of Heaven Award" at the 11th Beijing Film Festival, and this year's film "Return to Alexandria" starring her was shortlisted for the "Temple of Heaven Award"; Taimu Nikki's film "A Blind Man Who Doesn't Want to Watch the Titanic" won the "Temple of Heaven Award" for Best Film and Best Screenplay last year, and this year he brought his work "The Man Who Faced Death" Actor Zhou Dongyu was a judge of last year's "Temple of Heaven Award", and this year's film "Morning Clouds and Twilight Rain" starring her was also shortlisted for the main competition unit, and Fan Wei, another leading actor in the film, won the "Temple of Heaven Award" Best Actor Award.
The 15 films shortlisted for this year's "Temple of Heaven Award" are of high overall quality, and 3 of them have a strong literary and artistic temperament. This year's jury in the main competition unit has a luxurious lineup, and the chairman of the board, Emile Kusturica, is a world-renowned film master. As the core section of the Beijing Film Festival, the "Temple of Heaven Award" gathers the top resources and artists in the film industry, and forms a virtuous circle in years of hard work, attracting outstanding films at home and abroad to participate in the awards with continuous professionalism, and injecting new vitality into the global film industry.
Use "pet guests" to let the audience enjoy the charm of light and shadow
"In spring, come to Beijing to watch the world's best movies" has always been the warm agreement between the Beijing Film Festival and the majority of fans and audiences. This year, this agreement has been upgraded again, and the Beijing Film Festival has created the most "favorite" film festival, allowing the audience to fully enjoy the charm brought by light and shadow.
"The so-called pet is to better play the charm of the movie through various methods and activities. For example, in the screening of the works in the main competition unit, the signature poster of the main creator is prepared for everyone, and the audience has the opportunity to get it by asking questions and interacting. Set up special shows, such as "The Wandering Earth" and "Embroidered Spring Knife", which everyone likes, and give back to the audience with public welfare prices. In some cinemas, theatres and art galleries, free open-air screenings and cultural events are arranged. Fans can also participate in face-to-face activities with famous filmmakers and communicate with famous filmmakers up close. Sha Dan, the curator of the Beijing Film Festival, said with a smile, "In short, it is to find ways to let the audience better understand the film and get close to the movie." ”
According to the experience of previous screenings, the Beijing Film Festival has created three centralized viewing belts for the first time this year: the viewing belt along Chang'an Avenue, the viewing belt of western universities, and the northern viewing belt, which is more convenient for fans to watch movies in a centralized manner, so that everyone can watch more movies with less errands. The Beijing Film Festival also set up a "fan hotline" to quickly solve the feedback of the audience in the process of watching the movie, and truly focus on the masses and listen to the voices of fans.
Go to Yanqi Lake to listen to the movie and music festival, "go shopping and eat" at Langyuan Station, and buy cultural and creative peripheral products of the Beijing Film Festival online...... Through activities such as the Film Carnival and the "M+ Stress Field", the Beijing Film Festival combines film with technology, leisure and entertainment, so that the public can feel the colorful extension of movies outside the theater, and truly become a "Beijing Film Festival that everyone can participate in". The film carnival with the theme of "Light and Shadow Imprint, Huairou Life" launched more than 40 cultural activities and will last until May 4. The first-ever three-day "M+ Stress Field" film crossover event attracted the participation of more than 20 film and game IPs, more than 60 cultural and creative arts, and more than 20 food and beverage brand exhibitors, becoming the home of the interactive carnival between the general public and the Beijing Film Festival.
The Beijing Film Festival is not only a feast for the film and television industry, but also a multicultural exchange stage for the whole people to share the fun of film, promote the marketization of film and television, and constantly explore the boundaries of "film and television +".
The "circle of friends" for international exchanges is getting bigger and bigger
On April 19, in the exhibition area of the Thai Film Bureau at the investment promotion exhibition site of the Beijing Film Festival, Chen Qingluan enthusiastically introduced Thailand's preferential filming policies to the guests who came to consult. She is a Thai student studying at the Beijing Film Academy and the liaison of the Film Bureau of Thailand in China. "This year is the second time that the Thai Film Bureau has come to the Beijing Film Festival, and we feel that the Beijing Film Festival has been greatly improved in all aspects. Chen Qingluan said that the organization of this year's investment exhibition is more meticulous and thoughtful, with a lot of film elements added to the decoration, the exhibition area is more beautiful and personalized, and the investment exhibition is more popular.
On April 21, the first "International Meeting Room" activity of the Beijing Film Festival was successfully concluded at Langyuan Station. In just three days, more than 120 industry conferences, dozens of Chinese and foreign film and television companies and filmmakers exchanged and negotiated, and the atmosphere was warm. The guests at the meeting said that the holding of the "International Lounge" not only connects the film industry around the world, but also deeply links various departments in the industry such as creation, production, film festival, distribution, and cinema, providing a face-to-face communication platform for filmmakers.
As an important platform for international cultural exchanges, this year's Beijing Film Festival is more international. Whether it is the specifications of the guests, the quality of the participating films or international exchange activities, the international influence of the Beijing Film Festival is constantly improving.
The "circle of friends" of the Beijing Film Festival's international exchanges is getting bigger and bigger. 2024 is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil, and this year's Beijing Film Festival invites Brazil as the guest of honor, and also adds a diplomat film season and the "Beijing Film Festival International Lounge" for the first time, using film as a medium to promote international film and television exchanges and promote cultural cooperation. This year is also the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and the "Beijing Screening" has set up a special "Famous France" section to screen a number of classic French films. In addition, there are also screening activities such as Japan Film Week and "Global Vision-Silk Road Asia Connection". At various industry forums of the Beijing Film Festival, filmmakers from all over the world can also be seen everywhere to discuss hot and cutting-edge topics such as the development of AI technology, the diversity of film creation, the breakthrough of investment and financing, and digital technology shooting.
"Beijing is a city with a profound film culture accumulation, which provides strong confidence and confidence for the Beijing Film Festival. Huo Zhijing, deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and director of the Beijing Municipal Film Bureau, said, "We hope that by continuously enhancing the brand influence of the Beijing Film Festival, we can encourage film innovation and creation, incubate new talents and new works, and help the development of films and the prosperity of the market." ”