International Programmers Gather at “International Lounge” to Decode Art Review and Market Rules of International Film Festivals
In the world of film, from film festivals to theaters, from local to global markets, keen-eyed and insightful film festival programmers act as a vital link between art and the market. With their discerning vision, they sift through cinematic gems around the world, defining the works' international dissemination paths. They enable more excellent works to go global and ensure that stories that deserve attention truly resonate with audiences, thereby shaping the viewing horizons of global audiences.
During last year's Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), presidents and programmers from multiple international film festivals participated in forum discussions. They shared insights on how film festivals catalyze growth in their respective national and regional film industries, while delving into Chinese cinema's standout performances on the global festival circuit and its future potential. They all agreed that the inclusion of Chinese films has transformed international festivals into truly global celebrations of filmmakers.
Review of the Film Festival President Negotiations at the 1st International Lounge
The 2nd BJIFF "International Lounge" in 2025 will once again bring together the world's top programmers for high-level industry dialogue, building a direct bridge between creation and the market while solidifying its role as an important link in the film industry chain. The future of the global film industry will slowly unfold through their conversations and choices.
This year, the BJIFF "International Lounge" has specially organized on-site lectures by programmers to thoroughly analyze the film selection process of major film festivals, share industry standards, review logic and market trends, and reveal the mystery of the film festival selection mechanism. This will be a rare learning opportunity for filmmakers to speak directly with key industry decision-makers about how to improve the accuracy with which their works reach the global market.
In addition, the programmers will attend offline meetings of International Lounge. We sincerely invite representatives of film and television companies, producers, directors and other film professionals to register and participate. This is your chance to pitch projects to programmers in person, using the International Lounge as a springboard to get your works into prestigious international film festivals. Registration information can be found at the end of this article.
Programmers in Attendance
Paolo Bertolin
Programmer Paolo Bertolin has been a member of the Venice International Film Festival's selection committee since 2008. He joined the selection committee of Cannes Directors' Fortnight in 2019 and 2020. From 2016 to 2021, he was the Artistic Consultant for Locarno's Open Doors. In addition, he has worked for film festival organizations such as Cannes Critics' Week, Udine Far East Film Festival, and Visions du Réel Film Festival. In 2024, he started as Artistic Director of the New Zealand International Film Festival.
Giovanna Fulvi
Programmer Giovanna Fulvi has been the curator of Toronto International Film Festival since 2002, responsible for discovering emerging films and filmmakers from East Asia. She has served as a curator and jury member for many film festivals. In addition, she contributed to Alan Miller's documentary about Zhang Yimou's Italian production of Puccini's opera Turandot. Currently, she also serves on the selection committees of the Tallinn Black Nights International Film Festival and the Rome Film Festival.
Shozo Ichiyama
Programmer Shozo Ichiyama, joined Shochiku Co., Ltd. after graduating from the University of Tokyo. From 1992 to 1999, he was a producer and program planner for the Tokyo International Film Festival. After working at Takeshi Kitano's Office Kitano, he founded the TOKYO FILMEX film festival in 2000 and served as its director until 2020. In 2021, he was appointed the director of the Tokyo International Film Festival. His production works include Jia Zhangke's Mountains May Depart, Takeshi Kitano's Violent Cop, and Hou Hsiao-hsien's Flowers of Shanghai.
Wang Qingqiang
Programmer Wang Qingqiang has served as planner and Director of the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum and is currently the director of the Film Industry Office. He also serves as the Chinese-language Film Programmer for the Berlin International Film Festival and a curatorial advisor for the Nara International Film Festival.
Lin Qingxin
Programmer Lin Qingxin is the programmer for the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Spain. She has over 30 years of curatorial experience, having served as co-director of the UCLA Film and Television Archive Project and artistic director of the multi-city Chinese Screen Biennial, helping non-Western films gain audiences and acclaim in the United States. Retrospective exhibitions she curated, such as "Heroic Grace: The Chinese Martial Arts Film", have received widespread praise in North America and Europe.
In the tapestry of light and shadow, every film's journey begins with a single choice. And these programmers are the vital force propelling the film forward. Their vision shapes what stories play out on the big screen, as well as the trends and directions of global film culture. As we approach the 2025 BJIFF, we eagerly await their arrival, ready to witness the limitless possibilities of film.
From April 18 to 21, industry partners with Beijing Film Market credentials can secure opportunities for in-depth discussions with international programmers, presenting their work directly to global festival decision makers. Creators without credentials are also welcome to participate. The 2025 BJIFF “International Lounge” has opened its registration channel to further promote exchanges between Chinese and foreign film and television companies during the BJIFF, as well as engage with more film companies at home and abroad.
All organizations, companies, and individuals interested in negotiating with domestic and foreign film and television companies and programmers through the “International Lounge” platform are invited to send their Chinese and English profiles and contact details to: intlcommunications@163.com. The registration deadline is March 30. The email subject format is: “BJIFF International Lounge + Company/Individual Name”.
Registration implies authorization for the BJIFF to include your company/personal information in participant list of the BJIFF International Lounge for viewing by overseas participating companies. Participants who successfully confirm their meeting intentions will be invited to engage in face-to-face negotiations at the 15th BJIFF International Lounge