As the current film industry is in urgent need of rising talents, it sets its eyes on the discovery of young filmmakers. The Project Pitches of the Beijing Film Market is exactly such a platform that makes young filmmakers seen and discovered. Since its inception in 2012, the Project Pitches has been held for 13 consecutive years, throughout which numerous outstanding projects and young filmmakers rose to stardom.

The call for this edition has been successfully concluded. A total of 769 entries were submitted, including 736 script projects and 33 WIPs. The rich variety of genres of the entries will bring new vitality to the film market.

The Project Pitches of the Beijing Film Market has always been devoted to the Chinese film market and its incubation, and has fostered many excellent rising filmmakers over the years. Besides, the BJIFF strengthens its connection with young filmmakers through the “Young Filmmaker Support Program” and “Everlasting BJIFF” series. It continues to discover and empower new blood, and has attracted wide attention and active engagement from the filmmaking community. It’s worth noticing that the 14th BJIFF Project Pitches partners with the Beijing Publicity and Cultural Guidance Fund so that excellent young filmmakers can advance their projects in Beijing, and “turn stories into films”.

This year, the BJIFF Organizing Committee will invite more “old friends” back to the Project Pitches. They will return with better developed and enriched projects, rise further up at the BJIFF and realize film dreams.

　　

　　Poster of The Victims, entry of the 9th BJIFF Project Pitches

It takes five years for a seed to grow into a big tree. The period also suffices to transform a script to a film. The Victims (formerly Myna Bird), winner of the Project with Greatest Commercial Potential at the 9th BJIFF Project Pitches, is opening in theaters on April 3, 2024. At the final round of the Project Pitches, its tense storyline as well as unique and clever narrative earned the review of “a crime film with great commercial potential”. The excellent screenplay and ace cast might make it an unexpected success. It’s extremely inspiring to have The Victims released theatrically after five years. No film would be possible without the perseverance, endless motivation and faith of young filmmakers, which also serve as the original aspiration and mission of the BJIFF Young Filmmaker Support Program.

　　

　　Poster of the Namcha Barwa, entry of the 13th BJIFF Project Pitches

According to director Sun Haochen of the Namcha Barwa, he shot the documentary because “I want to focus on ordinary people who fight for their dreams at any costs. I was touched by those kids for their pure passion for soccer, and motivated to record the story.” The documentary embodies his persistent pursuit of dreams. It was submitted to the 13th BJIFF Beijing International Sports Film Week, a sub-section of the Project Pitches, and awarded Outstanding WIP Project. The jury spoke highly of the project, and offered professional advice about its development into a documentary. As director Sun indicated, being part of the BJIFF Project Pitches not only increased the visibility of the project in the industry, but also boosted his confidence in completing the project. The documentary had its post-production completed within less than a year. And it’s expected to be released in cinema this year. The BJIFF Organizing Committee has invited the cast & crew of the Namcha Barwa to have its premiere at the 14th BJIFF.

　　

　　The Land in the River, entry of the 13th BJIFF Project Pitches

Director Zeng Jiangui, an old friend of the BJIFF, presented his project The Land in the River at the 11th BJIFF Project Pitches. After three years of efforts and development, the project crystallized the breathtaking scenery of Linxia. The poetic yet natural presentation stood out among WIPs at the 13th BJIFF. The final-round jury had heated discussion before bestowing it the “special” honor of the BJIFF Project Pitches, i.e. the Jury President Recommendation Award. Director Zeng managed to raise sufficient shooting fund for the project within 3 days after he won the award, and went back to prepare for the shooting in his hometown Gansu. In his words, he made it this far thanks to the BJIFF Project Pitches. This year, we will invite director Zeng back and participate in salons and the Project Pitches. Hopefully, the return may help him release The Land in the River in cinema.

A non-stop pursuit of film dreams. The BJIFF wishes to empower young filmmakers to go beyond the Project Pitches, and assist them in “turning stories into films” through the platform. We aim to draw more young filmmakers to participate in the Project Pitches and return to the BJIFF with complete productions with higher level of professionalism, more pragmatic measures and opener platform. Let’s pursue film dreams together, and turn them into remarkable reality in this promised land.