SIFFORUM｜A "Mutual Pursuit" of Excellence in Film at the Film Festival

Launched by the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2018, the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance actively creates a platform for the exchange and mutual learning of film cultures. It not only aids Chinese films in reaching international film festivals but also increasingly brings foreign films to the Chinese audience's attention. On the afternoon of June 16th, the Belt and Road Film Culture Roundtable Talk took place. Guests discussed their experiences in film selection, curation, and nurturing new talent at various festivals, focusing on how good films can emphasize local features while appealing to international audiences.

Roundtable One: A Symphony of Cultures at Diverse Film Exhibitions

The forum's first roundtable discussion, titled "A Symphony of Cultures at Diverse Film Exhibitions", was hosted by Ms. Chen Guo, Director of Shanghai International Film & TV Festivals Co Ltd. She dialogued with new and old friends from the Fantasporto in Portugal, the New Zealand International Film Festival, the Guanajuato International Film Festival in Mexico, and the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival in Brazil. They explored how film festivals can curate and select films and how local productions can resonate broadly.

Chen Guo

Director of Shanghai International Film & TV Festivals Co Ltd

Film selection is a two-way choice. We adhere to the philosophy of "rooted in Asia, focusing on Chinese-language films, and supporting new talent" in our selection process. Filmmakers are also choosing the platform and film festival that best suits or values their work. Of the 461 films shown at this year's Shanghai International Film Festival, over 110 were world or international premieres, forming the foundation of this year's selection. Cinema is a major platform for filmmakers to interact, as well as a major celebration for film enthusiasts. Planning a good film exhibition is our fundamental task and also the basis for the festival to become a grand celebration.

When selecting Chinese films, we consider: Does the work have sufficient Eastern aesthetics? Does it share common values? Can the subject matter resonate widely? If these three elements are present, the film has the foundation to "go global".

João Dorminski

Executive Director of the Fantasporto in Portugal

Our film festival is known for its focus on fantasy films, which makes it unique. However, we welcome all types of films and explore different themes, especially through the "Orient Express" section, which has attracted many Asian films over the past few years.

My parents founded this festival, which is also a family-run event. We aim to create a familial atmosphere, making filmmakers feel at home and allowing them to exchange creative experiences. I initially worked in graphic design for the festival before gradually moving into negotiation roles. As creators, you must first showcase your country's characteristics in unique ways, engage in dialogues with other filmmakers, and convey key messages through visual storytelling to resonate emotionally and profoundly with the audience.

Catherine Fitzgerald

Director of the New Zealand International Film Festival (Former Chairperson)/Renowned Producer

Our selection criteria aim to find the best films worldwide and those who may become filmmakers in the future. For our film festival, we strive to create a festive atmosphere to enhance the audience's appreciation and broaden their horizons, exposing them to cinematic arts they might not have previously considered. I've noticed that film festivals often focus on their own country's culture. We should maintain connections with film festivals worldwide, not just the largest ones. It's entirely possible for us to be spectacular together.

In terms of distributing films, I believe filmmakers need to have an international perspective and experience and a substantial volume of film viewing to start from the shoulders of giants. However, the most crucial aspect is whether you can truly integrate your own culture with a fresh perspective.

Nina Rodriguez

Curator Director of the Guanajuato Film Festival, Mexico

Our film festival is highly inclusive. For example, our screenings run from 10 AM until 2 AM; we hold screenings in local cinemas and theaters that have historical significance, and we might even choose to screen in open environments, offering free viewing to the public.

We believe that film is a universal language that transcends borders. When watching Chinese films, even without translations or subtitles, we can understand them because we resonate with the same emotions. If your screenplay, creativity, or film truly roots itself in local life, personalized elements can facilitate the international spread of the film. Thus, producers should also empower filmmakers with the courage and discretion to express their unique voices, which can lead to better results.

Ilda Santiago

Curator Director of the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival

Selecting the finest films from a vast array is challenging. Each time, I ponder, on one side, there are young talents with potential, and on the other, there are masters—how do we assess them? At the same time, our challenge lies in how to resonate with the audience's curiosity, enabling them to reevaluate the world's current state through fresh cinematic perspectives.

Speaking of film dissemination, some films may be excellent, but to truly reach the audience, it's essential to optimize every link in the industry chain. Therefore, the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance is very important. With such an alliance, people can discover films they may not have seen before, and films from these alliance members may go further with the support of the platform, achieving cross-border dissemination.

Roundtable Two: Humanistic Dialogue as a Bridge of Cultures

The second roundtable discussion, titled "Humanistic Dialogue as a Bridge of Cultures", gathered scholars who have long focused on the Belt and Road Film Week and representatives of films that have participated in the Belt and Road Film Week and the Belt and Road Film Tour. They shared their observations and creative insights from various film festivals. Among them, Professor Shi Chuan from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, who has been involved in the film selection for six editions of the Belt and Road Film Week, attended the Dhaka International Film Festival earlier this year with writer and director Hong Ying and her film MOONLIGHT WARRIOR. Producer Franco Liu Hui's film THE CORD OF LIFE was nominated in the "Asian Film Competition" at the Dhaka International Film Festival and won both the Best Film and Best Actress awards. Meanwhile, the director and screenwriter Zhang Yudi's first feature film, THE MIDSUMMER'S VOICE, served as the opening movie for this year's Shanghai International Film Festival's Belt and Road Film Week.

Hong Ying

Writer, Director

In Dhaka, everyone loves cinema so much. We watch their films, and they watch ours, feeling each other's passion for film. I believe a film festival encompasses everyone's expectations and dreams about cinema. We want to express ourselves through film, and we also find the life and dreams we seek within it. That's why people attend film festivals.

Nowadays, everyone is talking about collaborating on films with other countries. I think China has the strength to engage more in co-productions. Without co-productions, you might not truly understand each other. I feel that creating together results in works that blend different cultural elements, are comprehensive, and are of exceptionally high quality, whether they are artistic or commercial. They will be good films.

Franco Liu Hui

Independent Producer

THE CORD OF LIFE tells a story from Inner Mongolia, and I've heard that many viewers in Dhaka also really appreciate this kind of film. I believe that culture is fluid and intermingling; we need more platforms to allow culture to truly flow. I am fortunate to have met exceptionally talented creators, including the production of VILLAGE MELODIES, which was also a pursuit of time and a record of life, capturing the entire creative team's love for the land under the director's guidance, turning that love into beautiful dialogue, music, and pure, beautiful imagery.

I especially hope that these films, through the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance platform, will be seen by more people worldwide and bring more attention to these precious traditional cultures. This requires not only the persistence of creators but also more producers and production companies to support visionary and earnest creators.

Shi Chuan

Professor, Shanghai Theatre Academy

This year's Belt and Road Film Week features films from many different places, including Africa and Latin America. How do you find logic amid the chaos of films? Amidst cultural differences, we try to find that empathy and can also form a mutual understanding. I've watched over 120 films from the Belt and Road Film Week, and they have transcended my existing knowledge, continually providing me with new information each year and teaching me more.

Personally, I see the Belt and Road Film Week as a growing event. Besides the 10 days of the festival, I hope there can be a Belt and Road film exhibition to promote these films to more regions in China, allowing the excellent films from the Belt and Road Film Week to enter China's mainstream market through the Shanghai International Film Festival and meet more audiences.

Zhang Yudi

Director/Screenwriter 

Coming to the film festival and its exhibitions, we are here to watch films. The Belt and Road Film Week has selected many films, and I might never have seen works from some of these countries or visited these places—places that are so far away that it takes over 30 hours by plane, places I might never have the chance to visit in my lifetime. But film gives me a window to understand them. This might also be the charm of the film itself; it is a bridge for communication, a language that everyone can understand.