2024-06-14

SIFFORUM | Highlights Preview: Discussing the Future of the Industry in the "City of Films"

From the cradle of Chinese cinema to today’s thriving film city, Shanghai’s openness, innovation, and inclusiveness have imbued the SIFF with a unique pioneering spirit, as the value of the Chinese film market keeps rising. SIFFORUM, a hub of industry wisdom, consistently addresses pivotal transformations in the film industry, providing filmmakers with inspiration and reflection.

From June 14 to 22, the 26th SIFF SIFFORUM will make a grand debut. With nine forums and four film workshops, how can one fully immerse in the experience? What insights and experiences will filmmakers share on various topics? By previewing the highlights of the SIFFORUM, you can gain a deep understanding and foresight from these profound dialogues and exchanges.

In A Shared Dialogue of the "City of Films"

Discussing Industry Revitalization and Upgrades

Shanghai, as the birthplace of Chinese cinema, is revered as the "City of Films" by countless film enthusiasts. This year's SIFF will center around the theme of the "City of Films”, focusing on how cinema portrays a beautiful life and how urban civilization nurtures the film industry.

On June 16, the Opening Forum, titled "Path of Light and Shadow: A New Journey” ,will feature key industry leaders from Alibaba Pictures, Enlight Media, Shanghai Film Group, CMC Pictures, Bona Film Group, and IMAX China. Renowned directors such as Li Shaohong, Guan Hu, and Wuershan, along with Fernando Juan Lima, President of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, and Shozo Ichiyama, Artistic Director of the Tokyo International Film Festival, will discuss the revitalization and upgrades of the film market since 2023.

In recent years, Shanghai has produced internationally acclaimed works like SHE HAS NO NAME, with its increasingly mature filming environment and comprehensive production services enhancing its global appeal as a "City of Films".

The "Integration and Symbiosis: Film and City Forum" on June 18 will invite prominent filmmakers, writers, and artists to explore the relationship between cities, films, and filmmakers. Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival, will share insights on urban elements in films from around the world, discussing how imagery and cities shape and influence each other. Novelist Chen Danyan, director Luo Dong, China Film Archive program planner Sha Dan, artist Yang Fudong, and documentary director Zhou Yijun will further delve into how films portray cities and the tradition of capturing urban life through cinema. Additionally, the "Her Film Era Forum" on June 14, themed "Embrace and Reshape”, will spotlight outstanding female filmmakers, recording their understanding of contemporary urban life.

Balancing Screenings and Technology

Creating New Cinematic Productivity

The prosperity of the film market requires not only high-quality works but also comprehensive development across all industry segments. Strategic scheduling can attract more audiences to diverse film genres, while the integration of artificial intelligence technology brings new opportunities and challenges to the film industry.

On June 17, the "New Ecosystem of Film Distribution" forum will focus on differentiated distribution mechanisms such as segmented, targeted, and regional releases, showcasing innovative developments in film distribution through vivid case studies. Renowned director, screenwriter, and producer Jia Zhangke will discuss the expansion of film sources through multiple channels and enriching cinema programming from a director's perspective. Professor Zhi Feina from the Chinese Academy of Arts will share her research and observations on film scheduling. Qi Hai, Vice President of the Guangdong Film Industry Association, will introduce explorations on how films can survive and thrive even after selecting the wrong release date.

Wu Feiyue, founder of Elephant Pictures, Zhou Yong, Distribution Manager at Huaxia Film Co., Ltd., documentary director Ryo Takeuchi, and Nie Borui, partner at Heylight International Film Distribution Company will discuss international opportunities in film distribution.

In recent years, "artificial intelligence" has become a focal point in the film industry. The "AI + Film: New Sci-Fi Visions and New Productivity" forum on June 17 will bring more industry insights. AI young scientist Dai Bo will elaborate on the current applications and future prospects of AI in the film field. Director/screenwriters Huang Jianxin and Dong Runnian, producer/screenwriter Wang Hongwei, animation director/mecha designer Shoji Kawamori, film art director Huo Tingxiao, and sci-fi writer Wang Jinkang will share their thoughts on AI technology, sci-fi creation, and film production, offering valuable suggestions for developing new productivity in the film industry and enhancing global competitiveness.

"Asian New Talent" Discusses Growth

New Forces Rising Towards the Sun

Adhering to the principle of "being rooted in Asia, promoting Chinese-language films, and supporting new talent”,the SIFF has established a "6+1" progressive system for nurturing emerging filmmakers, continuously infusing new blood into the industry. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Golden Goblet Award Asian New Talent Competition. On June 19, the "Asian Film Salon" forum will host a heartfelt reunion.

“This era has given birth to abundant creative material, allowing me to ‘take a sip’ from the cup of creation”, said Chinese director Li Xiaofeng, whose growth is closely tied to SIFF, from SIFF PROJECT to the Asian New Talent, and later to the Main Competition of the Golden Goblet Award. He will be joined by Iranian director Reza Dormishian, Chinese director Liu Juan, and other significant figures connected to Asian New Talent, as they reflect on the past and look forward to the future. Esteemed directors Shunji Iwai and Huang Jianxin, veteran filmmakers John Chong and Genki Kawamura, and Li Jie, President of Alibaba Pictures, will also share their insights on industry exchange and cooperation within Asian cinema.

In 2023, SIFF held the "Hong Kong Young Filmmakers Forum”, highlighting the growth and achievements of new-generation directors Li Zijun, Yan Yizhi, David Lee Kwong Yiu, Jack Ng Wai-lun, and Jia Shengfeng. This year, on June 17, the "Extraordinary: New Generation of Hong Kong Cinema" forum will invite renowned director Derek Yee to converse with actress Rachel Leung, who won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, and Louise Wong, who shone in films like ANITA and A GUILTY CONSCIENCE. They will be joined by young Hong Kong actors including Henick Chou, Kevin Kam-Yin Chu, Natalie Hsu, Leung Chung Hang, Yoyo Tse, and Renci Yeung. How does Derek Yee, who is known for its strictness, view the acting abilities of today’s young actors? With his dual role as an actor and director, what insights and inspirations will he bring? An energetic and enlightening dialogue is about to unfold.

Transcending Borders through Cinema

Global Solutions for "Chinese IP"

The art of cinema transcends borders, resonating and evoking empathy in audiences worldwide. As an international competitive film festival, the SIFF continually builds platforms to promote the global dissemination and exchange of outstanding films. For instance, the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, which now includes 55 institutions from 48 countries, was listed in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation's multilateral cooperation and practical cooperation project lists in 2023, embodying the Silk Road spirit of "peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual benefit".

On June 16, the Belt and Road Film Culture Roundtable will convene representatives from member festivals such as the Guanajuato International Film Festival in Mexico, Fantasporto in Portugal, the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, and the New Zealand International Film Festival. They will share insights and experiences in industry cooperation and the overseas promotion of films. Creators of films like THE CORD OF LIFE, MOONLIGHT WARRIOR, and THE MIDSUMMER’S VOICE, which have found their way to Belt and Road countries, will discuss the beauty of cultural exchange and mutual learning encountered in their journeys of creation.

Regarding the successful “internationalization” of Chinese IP in recent years, the forum on "Potential and Imagination for the Global Diversified Development of IP" on June 18 will explore how "Chinese stories" can be presented globally in diverse ways. Zhao Jilong, CEO of The Three-Body Universe, will share experiences on long-term planning for Three-Body IP films in the global market, embracing technological changes to expand into AR, VR, and AI fields, offering immersive and diverse experiences to "Three-Body" enthusiasts worldwide.

Additionally, don't miss the masterclasses by four renowned filmmakers: Tran Anh Hung, Shunji Iwai, Bill Nichols, and Midi Z. Their perspectives on creation and understanding of cinema promise to be inspiring!