SIFFORUM | Agenda Announcement
The 25th Shanghai International Film Festival SIFFORUM will be held in on June 10-17, 2023. 12 thematic forums gather representatives from the film industry in dialogue and discussion from the perspectives of industry pattern, film creation, technology frontier, talent cultivation and cultural exchange; 4 forums of "SIFF MasterClass" bring in renowned film masters from home and abroad to share their personal film concepts and creative experiences and talk about the charm of the film art.
Opening Session: Chinese Film Industry in the Global Context
Time: 10:00-12:00
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2023
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Shanghai
As one of the largest film markets across the world, Chinese cinema, driven by cultural confidence and technological innovation, has assumed a fresh appearance and shown new vitality. This forum brings together leading domestic and international figures in the film industry to offer insights on the new pattern of international cooperation and the high-quality development of the film industry in the new phase, as for the following topics: in the future, how to sustain the application of technological innovation, respond to the global demand for film consumption, enable a multi-dimensional leap in the strength of the film industry, and mutually benefit more international partners; and how to proceed with cultural confidence as the backbone, connect the world with China, unfold the charm of Chinese culture, further explore common issues, and fulfill more international cooperation paradigms.
Moderator: HUANGFU Yichuan | The President of China Film News, President and Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Cinema
Guest Speakers:
Frank, Ruoqing FU | China Film Group Corporation & China Film Co., Ltd. Chairman
HAN Yan | Director, Screenwriter, Executive Producer
HUANG Jianxin | China Film Director, Screenwriter, Executive Producer
LIU Xin | CEO of China Mobile, Migu
Daniel Manwaring | IMAX China CEO
WANG Changtian | Chairman of Enlight Media
WANG Jian Er | Chairman of Shanghai Film (Group) Co., Ltd. and Chairman of Shanghai Film Co., Ltd.
Ben Wheatley | Director of “Meg 2: The Trench”
YU Dong | Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Bona Film Group Co., Ltd.
Action! Her Time - Life Without Limits
Time: 10:00-12:00
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2023
Venue: Victory Cinema
In recent years, more and more female filmmakers have been making a name for themselves on stages at home and abroad. The characters in their works are brave enough to break through themselves and actively seek a life without limits. This forum invites internationally acclaimed filmmakers to highlight the multi-faceted roles and lives of women from the perspective of their creative process, and to talk about their profound thoughts on the growth of women, showcasing the power of elegance, independence, and diversity.
Moderator: SHENG Yanhong | Film Producer, Film Critic
Guest Speakers:
Ho-sun CHAN | Director, Executive Producer
WANG Jiayi | Actress
Vivian Junmei WU-COSTO | Actor, Producer
ZHANG Mo | Film Director, Screenwriter
ZHOU Yijun | Documentary Filmmaker, Writer
Co-Organizer: DIOR
*Invitation Needed
Emerging Hong Kong Filmmakers Forum
Time: 14:00-16:00
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2023
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Shanghai
As an essential medium of mass communication, film takes on the vital mission of spreading social culture and nurturing cultural talents of the age. This forum allows senior industry professionals and young filmmakers to identify the opportunities and challenges faced by young filmmakers, discuss the future development path of young filmmakers, and explore the mode of film cooperation and the outlook of film industry. SIFF will build platforms for exchange to make more growth opportunities available to Emerging Hong Kong filmmakers.
Moderator: GUO Wei | Anchorwoman for CCTV-6 Movie Channel
Guest Speakers:
JIANG Defu | COO of BONAFILM GROUP, Chairperson of Guangzhou Film Association
KA Sing Fung | Director & Co-writer of the Film “Lost Love”
LEE, Kwong Yiu David | Director
LI Jie | Vice President of Alibaba Group, President of Alibaba Pictures
LI Tsz Chun Jonathan | Director of "Dust To Dust"
Luca LIANG | General Manager of Film Production and Project Development, Emperor Motion Pictures
Linq YIM | Writer and Director of “The Boy Who Counted Cars”
SIFF Sci-Fi Film Week: Film Technology Forum
Time: 15:00-17:00
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2023
Venue: Hilton Shanghai Songjiang Guangfulin, Guangfulin Grand Ballroom
Theme Sharing: Breakthrough in Imagination, and Leaps in Technology
Roundtable Forum: Sci-fi Drive Film Industry Upgrading
Drawing on the development and application cases of major Sci-fi Film and film and TV technologies at home and abroad, this forum features persons from a background of key film and TV projects and visual effects, to touch upon the current core technologies and the role of science fiction films in driving the film industry, and enable the high-quality development of Sci-fi Film with technical support and guarantee.
Moderator: MU Zhifei | Professional Tutor of the Film Visual Effects Studio of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Director of the Computer Graphics Arts Committee of the China Film Art Direction Academy
Guest Speakers:
Dylan DING | Visual Effects Supervisor
Francine GAO | VFX Producer, VFX EP
MA Ping | Deputy General Manager of China Film Studio, Deputy Director of High Technology Committee of China Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (CSMPTE), Director, Producer, Visual Director
XU Tianhua | Concept Artist, Art Director
Tony ZHANG | Conceptual Art Director, Creative director of IDEOMOTOR
Co-Organizer:
China Film Association
CPC Shanghai Songjiang District Committee
Shanghai Songjiang District People’s Government
SIFF Sci-Fi Film Week Keynote Forum and Shanghai Hi-Tech Films and Televisions City Press Conference
Time: 9:30-12:00
Date: Sunday, June 11, 2023
Venue: Hilton Shanghai Songjiang Guangfulin, Guangfulin Grand Ballroom
Keynote Speeches:
Science Fiction, Human Perspective and Chinese Stories
Sci-fi Film and Futuristic Aesthetics
Exploration of the Unknown and Science Fiction Sentiment
Roundtable Forum: International Vision and Times Context of Sci-fi Film
This forum will focus on interpreting the background and context of the times behind the development of Sci-fi Film, discussing the Chinese sci-fi film industry and cultural values through an international perspective, exploring the direction and path of telling Chinese stories to the rest of the world through sci-fi films, and encouraging the high-quality development and prosperity of Chinese Sci-fi Film.
Moderator: Andrew LIANG | Actor, TV Host
Guest Speakers:
Pete Bebb | "MEG 2" Visual Effects Supervisor, Representative Works: "Inception", "The Batman" Trilogy
DONG Runnian | Director, Writer; Representative Works: "Gone with the Light", "Crazy Alien", "Mr. Six"
Frant GWO | Director, Director of "The Wandering Earth (2019)", "The Sacrifice (2020)", "My Old Classmate (2014)", "Lee's Adventures (2011)"
LU Chuan | Director, Screenwriter and Producer, Konwn for "The Missing Gun", "Kekexili：Mountain Patrol", "City of Life and Death", "The Last Supper", "Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe", "Born in China", "Beijing 2022"
WANG Hongwei | Vice Chairman of China Film Director’s Guild, Chairman of Blue Planet Science Fiction Film Festival
WU Ji | Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), Former Director General of the National Space Science Center, CAS
ZHANG Chiyu | Director
Co-Organizer:
China Film Association
CPC Shanghai Songjiang District Committee
Shanghai Songjiang District People’s Government
SIFF Sci-Fi Film Week - Science and Film Fusion Forum
Time: 14:00-17:00
Date: Sunday, June 11, 2023
Venue: Hilton Shanghai Songjiang Guangfulin, Guangfulin Grand Ballroom
Roundtable Forum – Sci-fi Film: Imagination and Scientific Spirit
The creative process of sci-fi film requires a serious approach to the scientific basis and scientific logic, which often determines whether or not a science fiction film is well-grounded. From the "The Wandering Earth" series to "Moon Man", the scientific basis of the science fiction setting and the scientific advisors in the production process are extremely important behind every sci-fi film. And this forum is dedicated to the collision and fusion of film and science in the production process of science fiction films.
Engines of the Future - Annual Release of Sci-fi Film
Theme: Release of Annual Outlook of Key Sci-Film Projects
Introduction: The creators of major film projects will be invited to vision and launch future key sci-film projects, aside from new materials on site.
Moderator: MA Heliang | Producer, Film Festival Curator
Roundtable Forum 1: Sci-fi Film and Scientific Consulting System
Guest Speakers:
CUI Yuanhao | Associate Professor, Scientific consultant for “The Wandering Earth 2”, Academic director, advisor for "The Age of Intelligence"
Lin Yuzhi | Executive deputy director of the Science and Film Exchange Professional Committee of China Science Writers Association
MA Ping | Deputy General Manager of China Film Studio, Deputy Director of High Technology Committee of China Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (CSMPTE), Director, Producer, Visual Director
ZHANG Li | Producer
Roundtable Forum 2: The Gene of Sci-fi Films
Guest Speakers:
Stanley Qiufan CHEN | Writer, Producer
JI Shaoting | Future Affairs Administration Founder&CEO
LU Fanxi | Vice President of Bilibili and the Leader of the Bilibili Film & TV Production Center, Film and TV Series Producer
ZHANG Yiwen | CEO of Storycom, Producer
Co-Organizer:
China Film Association
CPC Shanghai Songjiang District Committee
Shanghai Songjiang District People’s Government
An Innovative Path for Low and Medium Budget Films
Time: 14:00-16:00
Date: Sunday, June 11, 2023
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Shanghai
This event will make public the “The Research Report on China Film Industry (2023)” and “The Report on China Film Art (2023)”, to recap the fruitful achievements of Chinese cinema in the past year, highlight the features of the film market, the progress made by the film industry and the trend of film creation. And representatives of the creators of excellent low and medium budget films will present to share their expertise in the creation and distribution of such films to explore the innovative development path of low and medium budget films.
Report Release: “The Research Report on China Film Industry (2023)” and “The Report on China Film Art (2023)” to be released by China Film Association
Presenters:
YIN Hong | Professor, Tsinghua University; Vice-chairman, China Literature and Art Critics Association; Vice-chairman, China Film Association
LIU Jia | The Market Columnist of China Film Journal, Market Research Expert Appointed by the Industrial Research Center of the China Film Association, Visiting Professor of Beijing Film Academy
PENG Jian | Party Committee Members and Researcher of School of Cultural Industries Management, Communication University of China
Roundtable Forum: An Innovative Path for Low and Medium Budget Films
Moderator: XUE Xuchun | Actor, Curator
Guest Speakers:
DU Qingchun | Associate Professor, Department of Literature, Beijing Film Academy; Screenwriter, Executive Producer
LI Fei | Director, Writer, Actor
LIANG Jing | President of the Seventh Art Pictures, Producer, Famous Actress
XU Zheng | Director, Actor, Executive Producer, Scriptwriter
ZHANG Dayong | Assistant to General Manager of China Film Co., Ltd.; Manager of Beijing Film Distribution Branch and China Film Digital Film Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Co-Organizer: China Film Association
The Future of Cinema: New Film Technology Applications and Production Innovations
Time: 10:00-12:00
Date: Monday, June 12, 2023
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Shanghai
Theme: Film technology is fuelling China's film industry on the path of digital and intelligent upgrades. Globally, the application of frontier technologies such as generative AI technology is pushing forward the film industry into a new period of change. Many cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual engine, blockchain, 5G, VR/AR/XR, and human-computer interaction, have been applied to film exploration, visual production, animation production, network transmission, copyright protection and other fields, so as to bring more possibilities for film production and immersive experiences. Based on the independent development path of China's film technology, this forum will thoroughly discuss the application value of cutting-edge technologies, and how filmmakers can use high-tech to achieve the expansion of the production capacity in the film industry, continue to produce excellent audio-visual works, and promote the quality upgrade and industrial structure iteration.
Moderator: GUAN Yadi | PhD Student in Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Guest Speakers:
BIAN Wei | China Film Equipment Co., Ltd. Deputy General Manager, China Film CINITY Co., Ltd. General Manager, China Film & Huaxia Film Finance Co., Ltd. General Manager
Ellen R. Eliasoph | CEO of Starry Dome Productions, International Film Executive and Producer
Richie Mehta | Writer, Director
LIU Xiaoshi | Director, Director of "Born to Fly"
SUN Xiangyun | Chief Digital Officer of China Mobile, Migu
ZHANG Wei | President of China Research Institute of Film Science & Technology
The Belt and Road Film Culture Roundtable Talk
Time: 14:00-17:00
Date: Monday, June 12, 2023
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Shanghai
On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, representatives of the Alliance members, guests from the international film industry, and Chinese and foreign filmmakers will join each other in Shanghai for the vision of Belt and Road film exchange and cooperation. The roundtable discussion, “Connecting Local Narratives to A Worldwide Audience”, will address topics such as international film culture communication, overseas marketing strategies, and youth talent cultivation; meanwhile, hot topics in the industry, such as the direction and trend of sustainable development of film festivals, and how to further amplify festivals’ role in humanistic exchanges and industry empowerment, will be fully discussed.
Moderator: Andrew LIANG | Actor, TV Host
Report Release: The research report on “Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies For International Film Festivals on the Theme of Belt and Road - A Case Study of Shanghai International Film Festival in Practice” jointly released by Shanghai International Film Festival and the School of Journalism of Fudan University
Guest Speaker: TANG Jun | Director of the Department of Radio and Television, School of Journalism, Fudan University
Roundtable Forum 1: Connecting Local Narratives to A Worldwide Audience
Guest Speakers:
Kamila Andini | Director
Armin Hadzic | COO of Sarajevo Film Festival
QUAH Boon Lip | Director
Roberto Stabile | Head of Special Projects for DGCA-MiC
WANG Lina | Director of “A First Farewell” and “Village · Music”
WU Lang | Director and Screenwriter of film “Absence”
Roundtable Forum 2: The Survival and Sustainability of Film Festivals
Guest Speakers:
Agron Domi | Founder & Director of Tirana International Film Festival
HE Wenquan | Managing Director, Shanghai International Film & TV Festivals
Simon Popek | Film Critic, Publicist, Film Programmer, Artistic Director of the Ljubljana International Film Festival and Ljubljana Doc Film Festival
Amir Ramses | Director of Cairo International Film Festival
SHA Dan | Programmer at China Film Archive
Golden Goblet MasterClass: In Conversation with Jerzy Skolimowski
Time: 10:00-12:00
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Shanghai
With over twenty films to his name, Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski’s work includes the Berlin Golden Bearwinner "The Departure"(1967), Cannes Grand Prix winner "The Shout" (1978), the Cannes Best Screenplay winner "Moonlighting"(1982) and "Essential Killing"(2010) which was awarded with the Special Jury Prize and theCoppa Volpi in Venice. Skolimowski has also received the Golden Lion for the Lifetime Achievement from VeniceFilm Festival. His latest film, "EO" (2022), won the Jury Prize in Cannes and was later nominated for the Oscar at the95th Academy Awards. As an actor, he has appeared in "White Nights"(1985), "Eastern Promises"(2007), "Before Night Falls"(2000) and "The Avengers"(2012). Skolimowski is an accomplished painter who has taken part in theVenice Biennale and exhibited across Europe and the US. As the Jury President of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Awards (Main Competition), Jerzy Skolimowski is invited to share his life accompanied by films, insights into the film industry, techniques for audio-visual expressions, while also including his experiences and breakthroughs during filmmaking, and his approach to reaching a balance between fantasy and reality. Together, let’s set off on the path of discovering the mythical charms of films.
Moderator: Marco Mueller | Artistic Director of Shanghai University Film Art Center, Distinguished Professor of Shanghai Film Academy
Guest Speaker: Jerzy Skolimowski | Director, Scriptwriter, Actor, Patiner | Poland
Giant of the Century: Forum to Commemorate the Centenary of XIE Jin’s Birth
Time: 10:00-12:00
Date: Friday, June 16, 2023
Venue: Hall 2, Shanghai Film Art Center
Director XIE Jin is a legendary master in the history of Chinese cinema, and one of the most accomplished and vital directors since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Winning his fame in Shanghai, he has always kept a belief of bringing Chinese cinema to the forefront of the world stage throughout his 75-year devotion into filmmaking, which is why he spared no effort to hold an international film festival in China and took the role of jury president of the 1st SIFF Golden Goblet Award. The year 2023 coincides with the 100th anniversary of director XIE Jin’s birth and the 30th anniversary of the Shanghai International Film Festival. This forum will bring together renowned filmmakers and film critics to reflect on their experiences working with director XIE Jin from the perspective of his classic works and artistic life, to offer a glimpse into the artistic philosophy and cinematic spirit of this film giant across the ages.
Moderator: SHI Chuan | Deputy Chair of Shanghai Film Association, Professor of Shanghai Theater Academy
Guest Speakers:
CHEN Sicheng | Director, Executive Producer, Actor, and Screenwriter
Peggy CHIAO | Scholar, Professor, Producer, Film Festival Chair
HUANG Jianxin | China Film Director, Screenwriter, Executive Producer
KARIMA Fumitoshi | Professor Emeritus, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo
NG See Yuen | Well-known Film Director and Producer, the Honorary Permanent Chairman of Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers and Honorary Permanent President of Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild
SHI Xiaohua | Director
Toon WANG | Director of “Hill of No Return”, the Best Feature Film of the 1st Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Awards
ZHENG Dasheng | Director
Co-Organizer: Shanghai Film Association, Shanghai Film (Group) Co., Ltd. , Shanghai Xiejin Film Arts Foundation
Film Education Innovation Forum: Digital Transformation of Film Production and Professional Talent Cultivation
Time: 14:00-16:00
Date: Friday, June 16, 2023
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Shanghai
While enabling the transformation and upgrading of the film industry system, digitalisation has also placed higher demands on the cultivation and education model of film professionals. How could the Chinese film industry accelerate the application of digital technology innovations and the construction of a digital China, while creating an open and win-win pattern of international cooperation in the digital field? In the face of renewed iterations of technologies and concepts such as metaverse and artificial intelligence, how could film education keep abreast of the pace? What kind of talents are needed for the digital transformation of the film industry, and what opportunities and challenges do they face? This forum is an opportunity for Chinese and international film education practitioners and experts in international film production technology to discuss how digital technology can empower film education with the goal of cultivating film talents with an international mindset.
Moderator: Sarah JIANG | Executive President of Shanghai Vancouver Film School
Keynote Speech: Digital Technology Enables Upgrading of Film and TV Education
Guest Speakers:
HUANG Yu | Chair Professor, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University
Salar Shahna | President, World XR/F3RUM
Roundtable Forum: Cultivating Professional Film Talents with International Mindset
Guest Speakers:
CHEN Liaoyu | Animation Director, Associate Professor of Animation School of Beijing Film Academy
Stanley Qiufan CHEN | Writer, Producer
Andy Friend | Actor, Special Effect Designer, Concept Designer, Storyboard Artist
Leo LEE | Versatile Media Founder, CEO
Richie Mehta | Writer, Director
Co-Organizer: Shanghai Vancouver Film School
How to attend SIFFORUM?
Shanghai International Film Festival badge-holders can attend forums by showing their badges at the entrance of the venue. Seats are first come first served.
*Excluding invitation-only sessions.
Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism
