It’s been almost five months since the Project Pitches section of the 13th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) started to solicit projects on December 16, 2022. The film seeds beneath the soil were cultivated by the first-round and second-round selection, and watered by the final-round roadshow. Through a closed-door meeting attended by Peter Chan, Jury President of the Project Pitches, and the Final Jury, including Zhang Ji, Yao Chen, Wen Muye and Huang Xuan, excellent film seeds finally came to the award reception of the Project Pitches on April 26, welcoming the first bag of "fertilizer” in spring. The Project Pitches section hopes to help those seeds with market potential flourish in the harvest season.

 

　　Jury of Project Pitches attend award reception

After its opening, Jury President Peter Chan said that this is his first time to act as Jury President of the Project Pitches section, which is very different from being a judge in a feature-length competition section. He also noted that he has found various good subjects that young filmmakers are interested in, adding that it’s very hard to find a movie script which can touch the audience and is easily understandable. He wished that all projects can be successfully implemented with the help of the BJIFF, and meet the audience in cinemas as soon as possible. Zhang Ji recognized this year's Project Pitches and excellent projects. Yao Chen shared her views on the selection process in a more emotional manner. “Meet interesting people, and do valuable things,” she said. Wen Muye and Huang Xuan both mentioned “learning” and “growing”, and they said the Project Pitches is a good platform that provides more possibilities for young filmmakers.

Subsequently, the much-anticipated results of the Project Pitches were announced.

A Friend of the Rain won the Jury Special Recommendation Award and the Best Original Script Award, and received 100,000 yuan in cash from Warner Bros. Discovery, 50,000 yuan in cash from Hanlinyuan Pictures, and color grading service worth 250,000 yuan from Image Forestt. 

 

　　A Friend of the Rain wins the Jury Special Recommendation Award

　　A Friend of the Rain wins the Best Original Script Award

In order to better support excellent projects and give more assistance to young filmmakers, the Jury President Recommendation Award was additionally set up this year, and was conferred to The Land in the River after discussion by the Jury. The Land in the River is an old friend of the Project Pitches, and it received the Excellent Project Award at the 11th BJIFF Project Pitches. Its return attracted much attention, and we expect this project to grow and prosper in the future.

　　The Land in the River wins the Jury President Recommendation Award

Song of A Female Trucker was awarded as the Project with Greatest Commercial Potential, and granted 50,000 yuan in cash by Haiying Media.

　　Song of A Female Trucker is honored as the Project with Greatest Commercial Potential

The Walking Bird won the Best Creativity Award, and was granted 50,000 yuan in cash by Beijing Zhonghe Qiancheng Film and Television Culture Media Co., Ltd.

　　The Walking Bird wins the Best Creativity Award

The Dreamer in the Jungle won the Most Marketable Focus Award after selection by the chief producer of the BJIFF Project Pitches, and was granted 50,000 yuan in cash by Emperor Motion Pictures.

　　The Dreamer in the Jungle wins the Most Marketable Focus Award

UP! Miss Pineapple, a project shortlisted for the 19th Beijing International Sports Film Week, received the Beijing International Sports Film Week - Sports Film Project Support Fund.

　　UP! Miss Pineapple receives the Beijing International Sports Film Week - Sports Film Project Support Fund

WIP project Chinatown Cha-cha won the Most Investment Value Project Award, and received publicity and promotion service worth 300,000 yuan from Wefun Flower Entertainment.

　　Chinatown Cha-cha wins the Most Investment Value Project Award

WIP project The Dreamer in the Jungle was granted the Team with Greatest Potential Award, and received publicity and promotion service worth 300,000 yuan from Wefun Flower Entertainment.

　　The Dreamer in the Jungle wins the Team with Greatest Potential Award

The Motion Picture Association of America granted the MPA Award to Song of a Female Trucker, and the MPA APSA Award to A186. The two laureates and excellent participants of the MPA Workshop held at major film festivals in Asia Pacific will be awarded with a field trip to Hollywood, the screening event held in Los Angeles, and opportunities to pitch its project to international production companies.

　　Song of A Female Trucker wins the MPA Award; A186 wins the MPA APSA Award

A186, Ah Ji, Into the Fire, Long March, The Third Hope, The Invisible Murderer, Kapok, Sunrise, The Truth Beneath the Water, Youth in Trouble and The Last Haven were awarded as the Outstanding Pitching Projects. 

　　Group photo of winners of the Outstanding Pitching Projects

Namcha Barwa, The Land in the River, The Night Rain South Township and Fishbone were granted the Outstanding WIP Project Award.

　　Group photo of winners of the Outstanding WIP Project Award

　　Group photo of winners of Film Music Support Program

Turn stories into films. Just this year, the Project Pitches along with film fans have witnessed the release of The Cord of Life, which won the Jury Special Recommendation Award at the 10th BJIFF Project Pitches, and Like Father and Son, which won the Outstanding WIP Project Award at the 10th BJIFF Project Pitches. We’re also glad to see that Lost in the Stars, the second feature film by director Liu Xiang, a participant of the Project Pitches, has attracted market attention. There's reason to believe that we can watch these excellent projects on the screen in the near future. This year's Project Pitches section has concluded successfully, and we’ll see you next year!

　　Group photo for the event