Dear Beijing International Film Festival Market Section Visitors and Friends, 

 

Greece participates again this year in one of China’s most prestigious Film Festivals, in the Market section of the widely acclaimed 12th Beijing International Film Festival. 

Last year, Greece was the first Country of   Honor in the history of the Festival and actively participated in it, with the organization of a Greek Film Panorama, a video presentation of the incentives offered by the Greek Government to audio-visual content producers in Greece, and an online Pavilion in the Market of the Festival. 

This year is also a special year for Greece – China relations as our countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations back in 1972. 

Also, during the last year and throughout the year 2022, we have been celebrating the “Greece-China Year of Culture and Tourism".  

Evidently, culture and cultural relations is the cornerstone of our bilateral relations. They provide a special bond between our nations and peoples, mutual respect and trust. 

Greece, being the birthplace of ancient drama, is also a country that has decisively shaped, through its ideas and culture, our notions about theatrical and cinematic creation as we know it today.  

After all, the rise of Greek drama and theater has been inexorably linked to the rise of key ideas in Greek culture, such as dialogue, critical thinking and democracy. 

I would like to invite you all to systematically explore the online Greek Pavilion organized through the collaboration of the Secretariat General of Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy and the Embassy of Greece in Beijing: it offers practical insights regarding Greece’s policies and incentives (cash rebates and tax reliefs) with bilingual material in Chinese and English. 

Also, it presents services offered to foreign film makers by the Hellenic Film Commission and the National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME). 

Last but not least, it presents the work of the Greek Film Center and links to the latest Greek film productions. 

On this occasion, I would like to sincerely invite the Chinese Film makers to come to Greece and choose Greece as place to tell their stories. 

To avail themselves of the world top incentives offered by the Greek government; to get inspired by the mesmerizing Greek light and the breathtaking beauty of Greece’s landscape; by Greece’s unparalleled rich history and timeless culture; by the warm hospitality of the Greek people and the abundant expertise of Greek crews and film production specialists. 

I sincerely wish the 12th Beijing International Film Festival a great success!