BJIFF Builds International Network for Chinese Films

　　The Opening Ceremony of the 7th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), hosted by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People's Republic of China and People's Government of Beijing Municipality, and organized by Film Bureau of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People's Republic of China, China Radio International(CRI), Beijing Municipal Bureau of Press, Publication,Radio, Film and Television, Huairou District People's Government of Beijing Municipality, Beijing TV Station(BTV) and China Film Studio Co., Ltd., was held in the State Production Base of China Film Group in Huairou District on the evening of April 16.

　　Danish director Bille August, winner of two awards of Golden Palm at Cannes Film Festival and one Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Jury President of Tiantan Award, Hong Kong director Mabel Cheung, famous Italian director Paolo Del Brocco, Chinese actress Jiang Wenli, Romanian director Radu Jude, American director Rob Minkoff, and French actor Jean Renomade a grand appearance,showing the high standards of the jury.

　　As a medium developed international film festival,how to outpace previous opening ceremonies? Jiang Wenli, the jury of the Tiantan Award, may give the answers.“Beijing International Film Festival is not only a collection of excellent films, but also the feast for filmmakers. It has become the cultural brand of Beijing.When a cultural metropolis with long history meets Beijing International Film Festival which is growing mature after seven years’development, the result is never a superstar, an award or a single film, it is the cultural influence of the city.”Jiang Wenli said.

　　At the Opening Ceremony of the 7th Beijing International Film Festival, as well as the famous juries,world-leading filmmakers Serbian director Emir Kusturica, Indian director and actor Aamir Khan, and Taiwan director Sylvia Chang and other masters also came to join the grand event. Mao Amin, Guan Xiaotong, Sitar Tan (Tan Weiwei), Aaron Kwok, William Feng (Feng Shaofeng), Zaninla Zhao (Zhao Liying) and other famous celebrities also come to celebrate the annual film carnival.

　　Lots of influential crews made a splendid appearance at the Red Carpet for the Opening Ceremony, including La Peikang, Han Sanping, Jiang Ping, Yu Dong, Liu Weiqiang, Huang Jianxin, Liu Ye and Zhu Yawen from Founding of the Army ; Dany Boon from Raid Dingue ; Jean Lau and Jiang Yiyan from Dealer Healer ; crews from The Chinese Orphan , Mu Guiying Assuming Command, The Story of the Jade Bracelet,The Mirror of Fortune and Xie Yaohuan; Vivian Chen,Kingdom Yuen and Yuen Wah from My Kitchen Lover ;Ian Somerhalder from The Vampire Diaries ; Aamir Khan from Dangal ; Zhang Bin and Han Qiaosheng from Who is the King; and crews from Come Across Love, Please Please Please, and The Big Rescue , etc.

　　Data shows the real strength of the Beijing International Film Festival. Take the number and the amount of signed contracts for example, which is the important index to evaluate the prosperity level of the film industry, as one of the five parts of the Beijing International Film Festival, it took only six years to increase the gross merchandise volume from 2.8 billion yuan in 2011 to over 16 billion yuan in 2016.

　　This year, 181 organizations from China and the world registered for the exhibition. Besides domestic main exhibitors, Taiwan exhibition group, Hong Kong Baptist University, Italian Trade Agency, Israel, the US, Mongolia, Australia and other foreign exhibitors also joined the platform.

　　The 7th Beijing International Film Festival rearranged the construction of the exhibition booths to add more space for the exhibitors. The Beijing International Film Festival also invited organizations and companies from the world to develop new film technologies and explore new marketing campaigns in order to facilitate cooperation.

　　Beijing International Film Festival also enriched its category of contracts. In the past, the contracts were mainly about films. In last year, there were 11 film fund and strategic release projects signed, taking up 51.9% of the contracts. 5 film infrastructure projects including building theaters, film base, screens etc.

　　It has an important connection with the quick development of Chinese films that Beijing International Film Festival becomes a favorite in international cinema. In 2016, China’s box office is 4571.2 billion yuan,increased by 3.73%; the total number of people seeing the film in cities is 1.372 billion, increased by 8.89% ;the box office of Chinese film is 26.663 billion yuan, account for 58.33% of the total box office. The overseas box office and sales revenue of Chinese film is 3.825 billion yuan, increased by 38.09%.

　　With the quick development of cultural and creative industries, Beijing’s cinema industry increased in exponential terms. In 2015, Beijing has 182 cinemas and 1050 screens. Box office in Beijing is 3.15 billion yuan, ranking first around the country. In first quarter of this year, Beijing’s total box office has been 0.874 billion, increased by 26.4%. In 2015, Beijing produced 291 films. Among domestic films whose box office account for the top 20, 13 films are produced by Beijing. Among 5 domestic films whose box office is more than 1 billion, 4 films are produced by Beijing.

　　Beijing International Film Festival has become an important part of the global film events as China has been combining Chinese films with foreign films.

　　With the growing support from the country, film industry has benefit a lot. In recent years, government departments have been providing preferential policies,such as including the development of film industry in the plan of national economic and social development, giving more chances to private enterprises to release imported films, cancelling investigations on ordinary scripts and other policies. On March 1, Film Industry Promotion Law was released to solve problems regarding film making, distribution, industry support, legal responsibilities and other contents to improve the industry.

　　Under these policies, China has signed film contracts with more than 13 countries, including Canada,Italy, Australia, France, New Zealand, Singapore, Belgium, Korea, Spain, the UK, India, Malta, Netherland and other countries. An increasing number of films will be added with Chinese elements. Chinese actors and actresses will begin to play important roles in foreign films. Foreign film stars also come to Beijing to meet Chinese audiences.

　　Chinese film producing companies have also developed more cooperation. Huayi Brothers Pictures LLC signed agreements with STX Entertainment to produce no less than 18 films by the end of December 31, 2017. TV & Broadcast Intermediary Co., Ltd.cooperated with Lion Gate Films to invest 1.5 billion dollars on 50 films. More international cooperation will be made during this year’s Beijing International Film Festival.

Released on:April 18， 2017