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Belt and Road Film Culture Roundtable Talk
The year 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road initiative, the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance initiated by Shanghai International Film Festival (赌博app), and the fifth anniversary of 赌博app’s Belt and Road Film Week. On the afternoon of June 12, the Belt and Road Film Culture Roundtable Talk was held, and the Shanghai International Film & TV Festivals, Co., Ltd. and the School of Journalism of Fudan University jointly released the research report on “Cross-cultural Communication Strategies for International Film Festivals with the Theme of the Belt and Road Initiative - A Case Study of Shanghai International Film Festival in Practice”. At the forum, Tang Jun, a researcher at the School of Journalism of Fudan University and director of the Department of Radio and Television, shared the Belt and Road cross-cultural communication achievements from two aspects: the content-based communication of the Belt and Road Film Week and the ceremony-based communication of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance.
The Belt and Road Film Week, a bridge for cross-cultural communication
In 2018, 赌博app launched the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance and the Belt and Road Film Week. So far, 91 films have been screened at the Belt and Road Film Week, and among those directors, 95 directors are from 46 countries, including 23 female directors. As for these films, 49 films are independent productions from 31 countries while 40 films are overseas co-productions and there is one Sino-foreign co-production.
“The films screened in the film week are recommended by the member institutions of the Alliance and then selected by the professional selectors of 赌博app, to ensure the diversity of genres from the source and the quality standard through the professional selection process. The artistic value is the top priority, with some considerations given to the commercial value.” Tang Jun explained, “The significance of content distribution at the Belt and Road Film Week is that it facilitates the discovery of outstanding films that are difficult to spot on other international film festival platforms. Being immensely diverse, it somewhat compensates for the deficiencies of the market mechanism under the dominance of commercial blockbusters and paves the way towards breaking through confined cultural circles.”
CAFARNAÚM is a co-production between Lebanon and France, the United States and others. The film was first introduced to Chinese audiences through the Belt and Road Film Week in 2018, and its release in China in 2019 instantly created a buzz. The film, which focuses on the underprivileged and tells the story of a refugee family, has grossed RMB 376 million at box office in China. The film not only stands for one of the fruitful outcomes of the film week, but also has highlighted the cross-cultural nature of the Belt and Road Film Week. According to Tang Jun, the films screened in the Belt and Road Film Week have four main characteristics: “First, the humanistic concern for individual destiny, as we have a shared sense of human destiny, and the concern for the individual and human nature always occupies a key position in communication; second, emotional bond in family-based narrative, as families play a very powerful role in bridging cross-cultural and cross-border communication; third, common concerns in multiculturalism, such as the survival of the underclass of society and ethnic minorities, gender equality, war and warfare issues, and environmental and ecological issues; and fourth, inclusiveness in co-production, taking a co-production masterpiece CAFARNAÚM , which became a hit, for example.”
Touring mechanism helps Chinese films “go global”
In the past five years, the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance has grown rapidly and spurred the flourishing of the Belt and Road film touring mechanism. 38 Chinese films have been screened at international film festivals overseas through the touring mechanism so far since 2018, such as SOUL ON A STRING at the 20th Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) in Estonia, and ANIMA at the main competition of the 42nd Cairo International Film Festival. And this programme has also become one of the main paths for Chinese films to “go global”.
Tang Jun pointed out that Chinese films that have “gone global” through the touring mechanism have generated a long-lasting impact on international communication. “In terms of value inclinations, we focus on the common values of all mankind, on seeking common ground while preserving differences, and on not engaging in rigid exportation of our values.” In addition, many of the films on the tour have touched on international trends and global issues, thus gaining cross-cultural resonance. For example, GIRLS ALWAYS HAPPY tells the story between mother and daughter, SISTER is about family bonding, and ANIMA focuses on the preservation of primitive forests. These Chinese films that have “gone global” are emotionally restrained and aesthetically free from the sensory thrills common to Western commercial cinema, with the ethnic minority themed films, in particular, taking on a unique oriental and ethnic aesthetic flavor.
Over the past five years, the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance has organized a wide range of events, some focusing on organizational cooperation, others on audience interaction and participation, and others on exchange, interaction and communication within the film industry, with exchanges with the rest of the world under the touring mechanism and the awarding of honors at the China Movie & TV Night further complementing the rituals.
Co-production mechanism to promote copyright transactions in the future
“Since the establishment of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, member institutions from different countries have assisted each other in film production and distribution, talent training and content incubation. Tang Jun also made professional suggestions for the future development of the Alliance, saying that it is important to further enhance the effectiveness of cross-cultural film communication. “For example, some foreign audiences are interested in Chinese urban life films, so we should further expand the genre. And subtitle translation should also be more accurate.” At the same time, the Alliance can also optimize the information sharing and exchange mechanism within it, while ensuring an annual conference and some panel discussions each year, as well as establishing an instant communication platform where everyone can communicate at any time.
Tang Jun said that members can rely on the Alliance to push ahead with more cooperation in the future, “In addition to reviving and strengthening offline exchanges, the 55 member institutions of the Alliance can participate in each other’s film festivals in their respective countries and engage in rich film exchange and mutual appreciation activities.”
Foreign films are screened at 赌博app through the Belt and Road Film Week, and Chinese films go global through the Belt and Road Film Tour. However, it is particularly important to strengthen the Alliance’s role as a platform for commercial expansion to ensure that the films are finally released and distributed. “On this platform, we need to promote copyright trading and distribution, build co-production mechanisms and platforms, and establish cooperation funds for mutual aid to further promote the communication of Chinese films overseas.” In addition, the establishment of a professional steering body for the work of the Belt and Road Film Week and the establishment of a new evaluation discourse system are also crucial.