The Belt and Road Film Tour ｜ SIFF Recommends Zhao Tao as the Jury Member of the Durban International Film Festival

The Belt and Road Film Tour set off again to promote exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and African filmmakers. A few days ago, the 43rd Durban International Film Festival of South Africa officially announced the list of jury members for the main competition. Chinese actress and producer Zhao Tao was invited to serve as the jury member of the feature film unit as the only Chinese member in the jury panel of the main competition.

In April 2020, the Durban International Film Festival officially joined the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance initiated by the Shanghai Film Festival (SIFF), becoming the second institutional member from Africa in the alliance. The appointment of Zhao Tao as a jury member this time originates from the invitation from the Durban International Film Festival to the SIFF. Durban International Film Festival expressed its hope of inviting a Chinese female filmmaker as the jury member for the main competition unit of the 43rd session to be held in July this year to leverage the platform power of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance and the extensive influence of SIFF in the Chinese and Asian film circles, so as to better realize the curatorial vision of the Durban International Film Festival, enhance the friendly interaction between the two festivals, and deepen the mutual learning between Chinese and African film cultures and communications between filmmakers.

Poster of the 43rd Durban International Film Festival

After receiving the invitation, SIFF immediately issued invitations to multiple parties. In the end, Zhao Tao was selected as the jury member of the feature film unit of Durban International Film Festival. Ms. Valma PFAFF, the manager of the Durban International Film Festival, was very pleased to learn the news and immediately sent an official invitation letter to Zhao Tao. And Zhao Tao readily accepted the invitation. She will watch all the shortlisted films online with the other two international jury members and jointly review and discuss the award winners.

Zhao Tao

Zhao Tao started film performances in 2000. In 2012, Zhao Tao won the 57th David di Donatello for Best Actress for her Italian film IO SONO LI. In addition, the films she starred in, such as STILL LIFE, MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART, and ASH IS PUREST WHITE, have won various honors from major film festivals and film awards at home and abroad. Before being invited as the jury member of the Durban International Film Festival, Zhao Tao served as the judge of the main competition unit of the 7th Rome International Film Festival and the 22nd SIFF.

Trophy of the Durban International Film Festival

The Durban International Film Festival, founded in 1979, is the oldest international film festival in South Africa and one of the most prestigious international film festivals in Africa. While focusing on African films, the Durban International Film Festival also shows and discovers high-quality films from all over the world. In 2021, the Chinese film, A LITTLE BIRD REMINDS ME directed by Shi Xin, was shortlisted for the competition unit of the 42nd Durban International Film Festival and awarded the two major awards for best film and best director. This film was premiered before the world during the 23rd SIFF in 2020.

Poster of A LITTLE BIRD REMINDS ME

The Durban International Film Festival 2022 in South Africa will be held online and offline from July 21 to 30.

The opening event of the 40th Durban International Film Festival in 2019