The First “The Beijing Fire and Rescue Department is Always by Your Side” Theme Screening Event Officially Kicks off
“Fire is merciless, fire prevention comes first.” To raise citizens’ awareness of fire safety and expand fire safety publicity, the First “The Beijing Fire and Rescue Department is Always by Your Side” them screening event, co-organized by Beijing Fire and Rescue Department and the Organizing Committee of the BJIFF, kicked off at Beijing Theater on the afternoon of April 14, 2023 as a sideline event of the 13th BJIFF.
The scene of the “The Beijing Fire and Rescue Department is Always by Your Side” theme screening
At the event, leaders of Beijing Fire and Rescue Department, Beijing Municipal Radio and Television Bureau, Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, Beichen Group, Chaoyang Fire Fighting Detachment, Tian’anmen Fire Fighting Detachment and other organizations and institutions, as well as safety leaders from key cultural heritage and museum units, and front-line fire commanders and fighters watched the French film Notre Dame On Fire.
Director Jean-Jacques Annaud
Director Jean-Jacques Annaud discussed the topic of fire safety protection for cultural relics and ancient buildings and told the story of the film at the event. Jean-Jacques Annaud won the 49th Academy Award for Best International Feature Film for his film Black and White in Colour. He won the Best Director Award at the 5th BJIFF in 2015 for Wolf Totem, and is a regular guest at the BJIFF.
Director Jean-Jacques Annaud
As an honorary firefighter in Paris, director Jean-Jacques Annaud was affectionately called “colleague” by the participating firefighters. “For a realistic effect, flames used in the film are real, and no special effects were used. The image of firefighters presented in the film is just the epitome of firefighters blazing the fire at Notre-Dame. I am impressed by firefighters because each and every of them is a great example, and I am full of respect for firefighters in Beijing who are young and ready to risk endangering their own lives for the safety of others,” said Jean-Jacques Annaud.
Afterwards, representatives of cultural and museum units from the Palace Museum read out the proposal, “Fulfil responsibility by making detailed inspection, and nip fire hazards in the bud”. This event combines common knowledge of fire protection, responsibility for safety and film watching, so that the precautionary concept gets entrenched in the minds of participants. Through the analysis and reflection on the cause of the Notre Dame fire that broke out on April 15, 2019, it set the alarm bell ringing for fire safety responsibility awareness. Hidden hazards are more dangerous than open flames, prevention is better than disaster relief, and the responsibility is heavy. We must work together to ensure our safe life.
The “Beijing Fire and Rescue Department is Always by Your Side” theme screening event will also feature two fire-themed films Flashover and As The Light Goes Out at the BJIFF! Please stay tuned!