The "MPA Workshop", co-hosted by the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) and the Motion Picture Association (MPA), represented the first session of the Workshop & Masterclass series activities at the 10th BJIFF. 2020 marked a special year. Although the COVID-19 pandemic cut off people’s contact in the physical world, it had never really blocked off the desire of movie fans and filmmakers to communicate. With the theme of "Film Talent Cultivation System under Industrialization in China", the MPA Workshop in 2020 brought together senior Chinese and foreign filmmakers for in-person or on-cloud conversations with young Chinese filmmakers virtually, with the content covering the industry and creation.

 

The forum held last year, moderated by Li Zhan, Founding Partner of Fanink, invited Charles H. Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the MPA; Belinda Lui, President of the Motion Picture Association, Asia Pacific; Joe Russo, one of the Russo brothers who directed The Avengers series; William Feng, Head of Greater China & Vice President of Asia Pacific, Motion Picture Association; Liu Chun, General Manager of China Film Co-production Corporation; Zhao Fang (Gillian Zhao), President of Warner Bros. China; Ye Ning, Founder and Chairman of Qingsong Pictures; Ellen Eliasoph, producer of Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons and Shadow; and Andre Morgan, producer of Million Dollar Baby and The Warlords.