Convey the Message of the Robust and Leading Recovery of China’s Film Industry to the World——A Summary of the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival

Coinciding with the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) was successfully held from June 11 to 20 in Shanghai, the birthplace of the Communist Party of China and its original aspirations, as well as the origin of China’s film industry. The holding of this year's SIFF is of great significance to the film industry at the beginning of the "14th Five-Year Plan" and to Shanghai, an international cultural metropolis taking shape step by step.

In 2020, Shanghai presents to the world the first international non-specialized competitive film festival restarted after the global outbreak of COVID-19; in 2021, SIFF, held in an orderly and safe manner with distinctive themes, complete sections, and orderly running, has become the international non-specialized competitive film festival with the largest number of participants in the world as scheduled, demonstrating to the world the great achievements of China’s anti-epidemic fight and passing the message of the strong and leading recovery of China’s film industry to the world.

This annual event, brilliant and impressive, reflects the on-going growth of Shanghai's soft power, with the red culture, Shanghai-style culture, and Jiangnan culture intertwining with each other in this city of enchanting film art. SIFF, adding glamour to the "Shanghai Culture" brand, is committed to power Shanghai's efforts to build the hub for domestic circulation and the strategic interface for the "dual circulation" development paradigm, in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other.

Pay tribute to the centennial film art, and convey spiritual power through films

The latest red blockbuster "1921" produced in Shanghai was unveiled this year's SIFF; Tian Hua, Zhang Yimou, Zhang Yi, Zhou Dongyu and other film workers appeared at the Golden Goblet Ceremony to pay tribute to the great era; events such as “China Movie & TV Night”and “The Light of Shanghai Film” have attracted unprecedent attention, showing the industry’s strong recovery momentum; 12 mainstream feature films over the years have been screened, to reproduce the 100-year journey of glory of the Communist Party of China; the film poster exhibition themed “Red Film Art - Tribute to the 100 Years’ History of the Communist Party of China” recollects development path of China’s film industry to boost the confidence of filmmakers; major domestic producers and platforms released the latest red film list at this SIFF, showing the market pattern with a strong positive energy...

In the promotion video of this SIFF, the famous film performance artist Tian Hua said with emotion: "Film is time, that changes everything, yet renders the hundred-year eventful journey glorious." During the SIFF, she, now 93 years old, also made a special trip to Shanghai, and expressed her feelings when signing on her new book: "I will always be the 'daughter of the Communist Party of China'."

The “A Hundred-Year Journey - Red Film Art” special unit of this SIFF’s Film Panorama, screened "The White-Haired Girl", "The Eternal Wave", "Song of Youth", "The Red Detachment of Women", "A Revolutionary Family", "Heroic Sons and Daughters", "Nanchang Uprising", "The Message", "The Wandering Earth", "Sacrifice", "Days and Nights in Wuhan", "Liu Qing" and other works made in different ages, leading the audience on a theater trip to recollect the past and vision the future.

"New mainstream", "Youth vibe", "Return to the historical scene" and so on have become the key words of mainstream films at this SIFF. "1921", as the opening film, was especially under spotlight, among which the images of young Mao Zedong, Li Da and his wife are widely praised. Huang Jianxin, Jury President for the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards and director of "1921", advocated at the SIFF the production of mainstream films about core values, and the promotion of the marketization and internationalization of the mainstream films.

As an important part of SIFF, SIFFilm Forum encourages filmmakers to inspire each other and form consensus through thought exchange, concept presentation and experience sharing, investing filmmakers with confidence and responsibility in finding new opportunities in the face of challenges. At the Opening Session: Chinese Film Industry Summit, themed “Make True the Dream of a Century and Set Sail on a New Journey”, representatives of domestic film companies announced the mainstream film list. The heartening creation plan will cover the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, emphasizing both quantity and quality.

At the forums such as “Marketing Strategy of Mainstream Cinema”, “Reshape Imagination - Redefine Future-New Thoughts of Chinese Sci-Fi Movies”, “Virtuality And Reality - New Changes in Film Production”, and “Yangtze River Delta Film Cooperation”, guests from various fields talked about creation, industry, and cooperation, fully demonstrating the determination and confidence in promoting the high-quality development of China's film cause and industry. The opinions that industry representatives offered at the SIFForum not only focus on the trend of mainstream film creation, but also show a social consensus, that is, people's expectation for positive energy.

Effective epidemic control, and enlarged influence

SIFF enjoys a unique “international style” in Asian film arena. This year, while guaranteeing strict epidemic prevention and control and an upper occupancy rate of 75%, SIFF has screened 405 selected films from 62 countries and regions during 10 days; The Belt and Road Film Week screening extended to the Yangtze River Delta for the first time; online and offline international film and television cultural exchanges continued to heat up; Golden Goblet Awards selection, SIFForum, SIFF YOUNG X, SIFF Market, SIFF PROJECT, MasterClass, and new talent cultivation were full of vitality and highly anticipated.

Drawing on the successful experience of launching the “International Film and TV Online Market” for the first time in 2020, this SIFF resumes the physical SIFF market, while improving the virtual “Online Market”. With dual platform machenism combining the physical and virtual markets, SIFF has tried it best to provide Chinese and foreign film exhibitors with richer and more mature “Shanghai Service”, and has attracted the participation of more professional organizations at home and abroad. According to statistics, there were a total of 459 online and offline exhibitors from 45 countries and regions in the SIFF market this year, among which overseas exhibitors account for nearly 60%, bringing together Germany’s Global Screen, Spain’s Filmax, Italy’s Vision Distribution, and Russia’s Wizart Animation and other major film sales and distribution companies, in addition to overseas film and television organizations such as the Iranian Farabi Cinema Foundation, the Thai National Film Association, and the Chinese Film Association of Malaysia. Although face-to-face international exchanges have been hindered, SIFF is persistent in expanding exchanges with the international industry through innovative communication methods, by inviting participants, setting up platforms, and opening up channels to allow Chinese and foreign counterparts to have “online exchanges” , make “online transactions” and establish “cloud cooperation”.

The MasterClass gathering film masters from all over the world have further gained reputation through the “online dialogue” mode featuring both online and offline interaction. Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Russian director Aleksandr Sokurov, director Jia Zhangke, director Pema Tseden and others were invited to share creative insights and talk about the future of film. What behind every MasterClass session is the craftmanship gained over the years at SIFF. For example, Apichatpong has been invited for three consecutive times. But he failed to make the trip to Shanghai due to schedule. And this year, he finally has the opportunity to join director Jia Zhangke to present a dialogue about the theme of hometown, which both of the two directors are good at in expression. And Jia Zhangke started a dialogue with his old friend this way: “In the past, before the outbreak of epidemic, we often met and chatted at film festivals. After the outbreak of the epidemic, I myself have not been abroad for two years, and this dialogue form, both online and offline, is also very good, helping us to resume communication.”

Despite the challenges brought by the epidemic, the selection of the Golden Goblet Awards at the 24th SIFF is still very persuasive. This year, SIFF received 4443 registered films from 113 countries and regions. Among the films screened, 73 are world premieres, 42 are international premieres, 89 are Asian premieres, and 99 are premieres in China. These dazzling data cannot be separated from the rich industry network resources that have been accumulated and expanded for many years at SIFF, from the trust of film institutions and filmmakers from all over the world, and more importantly, from the global film industry's recognition of China's outstanding achievements in the fight against the epidemic. Huang Jianxin, Jury President for the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards, said: “When the epidemic inflicted the hardest hit last year, SIFF was the first film festival held in the world, which filled us with respect, as it needs to overcome all odds to hold such a worthwhile and culturally valuable event.”

From industrial cluster to expansion of influence, co-construction and sharing of film art

Shanghai, accelerating its construction of the global film and television creation center, is gathering industrial energy. Shanghai Hi-tech Films and Televisions City, since its construction in Songjiang District in 2018, has been continuously optimizing business environment. It has attracted nearly 7,000 film and television companies and studios, covering film and television creation, shooting, training, etc., and basically realized the development of the entire film and television industry chain. The major achievements in the development of the film and television industry were released again at SIFF, and a number of important projects were launched; Shanghai International Resort continued to dynamically adjust the special funding policy for the film and television industry, signed a number of key film and television cultural enterprises, unveiled the Shanghai science fiction film and television industry base, and released the achievements of the 5G digital film and television creation cloud platform; during SIFF, Jing’an District issued the “Implementation Opinions of Jing’an District on Promoting the Development of Film and E-sports Industries” to support the development of the two major cultural and creative industries, film and e-sports, in Jing’an from nine aspects. Also, it has announced to build a “Film and Television Business Incubation Demonstration Base” with the Shanghai Film Bureau to foster young talents. SIFF, with its strong communication power, is attracting the attention of the film industry at home and abroad, and enhancing the appeal and soft power of Chinese films.

To implement the national strategy of integrated and high-quality development in the Yangtze River Delta, SIFF takes one step a year to promote the exchange, cooperation and development of films in the Yangtze River Delta region in various sections. This year, the three provinces and one city in the Yangtze River Delta jointly organized the promotion of major films themed the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. As a result, “1921”, “Zhou Enlai in His Childhood”, “Red Boat” and “Love on the Tuul River” were followed with interest in Shanghai before they were released. The distribution and screening agencies in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui will strengthen cooperation and focus on promoting these masterpieces. Representatives from more than 30 provincial and municipal industry associations, cinemas, and film administration authorities in the Yangtze River Delta also gathered at SIFF to discuss the development plan for film distribution and screening in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, and to seek the future of the industry. Following the establishment of the “Yangtze River Delta Film and Television Shooting Base Alliance” during SIFF last year, this Alliance released the “Yangtze River Delta Film and Television Shooting Guide” (Version 2021) at SIFF this year. The Alliance will reinforce resource integration and strengthen members’ horizontal communication, improve industry self-discipline, enhance collaboration capabilities, and empower the coaction of film and television shooting services in the Yangtze River Delta.

This year’s Belt and Road Film Week also went out of Shanghai for the first time and was expanded to the Yangtze River Delta, screening a total of new excellent films in 36 sessions recommended by member institutions of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance in 5 cities including Hangzhou, Ningbo, Nanjing, Suzhou and Hefei. Since its inception in 2018, the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance has grown stronger and now has 53 member institutions in 46 countries. Relying on the unique platform of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, this year's SIFF has received the registration of 1,136 films from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative route. And thanks to the fruitful results of the Alliance, this year’s Belt and Road Film Week took “Opening the Heart” as its theme, and has invited filmmakers Donnie Yen, Jia Ling and Zhang Xiaofei as promotion ambassadors. A total of 20 selected films presented the custom along the Belt and Road Initiative route before people’s eyes; at the same time, a new round of Belt and Road Film Tour has also kicked off, which will bring the film “Hi, Mom” and other film masterpieces, which bear the imprint of Chinese humanistic care, to the world.

Support the growth of new talents, and build a support system

Han Shuai, Liang Ming, Rao Xiaozhi, Wang Jing, Zeng Guoxiang, five well-known filmmakers in the industry, appeared at this SIFF as the first batch of young filmmakers of SIFF YOUNG X.

In recent years, SIFF has been actively seeking innovation and changes. Based on many years of cooperation with the Cannes Film Market, this year the two international non-specialized competitive film festivals have reached a substantive new cooperation on SIFF YOUNG X. Under the guidance of the Shanghai Film Bureau and jointly initiated by SIFF and the Cannes Film Market, the two will give full play to their platform effect, and provide Chinese young filmmakers with broader development space and smoother growth path. During SIFF, at the SIFF YOUNG Forum, experts and scholars offered directions on the progress and growth path to young filmmakers, and explored the unique charm and growth trend of young filmmakers, encouraging and enlightening young filmmakers greatly. Filmmakers such as Ning Hao, Natacha Devillers, etc. appeared to share personal insights to help young filmmakers to grow sustainably and promote the birth of more new and excellent films.

One month later, at the Cannes Film Festival, the five filmmakers selected in the first session of SIFF YOUNG X will appear at the Cannes Film Market at the Cannes Film Festival through video. This world’s largest film market will help them gain access to the European film industry. If the “SIFF China Day” held at the Cannes Film Festival before the epidemic is more aimed at showing to overseas markets, then today’s SIFF YOUNG X has a greater significance in direct industry connection, which will help more outstanding young filmmakers to win global film institutions.

SIFF has always paid attention to discovering, training and supporting new talents. In recent years, it has formed a talent training system with the Golden Goblet Awards as the core, and formed by SIFF PROJECT and Training Camp, and Short Video Selection. Taking SIFF PROJECT an example, the SIFF PROJECT projects proposed over the years have shined at this SIFF: “The Chanting Willow” was shortlisted for the main competition of Golden Goblet Awards this year, and its  director Gu Wei participated the SIFF PROJECT in 2008; the film “AINIMA” directed by Cao Jinling was the SIFF PROJECT project in 2018 and the opening film of this year’s Belt and Road Film Week; “Fish Under the Ice” by director Zhang Li was shortlisted for the SIFF PROJECT in 2019, and was selected into this year's Film Panorama - REFRESHING CHINESE CINEMA; “The Piano in a Factory” by director Zhang Meng, once winning the honor of the “Most Creative Project”  of the SIFF PROJECT IN 2009, entered this year's Film Panorama - SIFF CLASSICS: SIFF SELECTION. More and more young talents who are active in the field of film have benefited from the new talent cultivation and support mechanism of SIFF and have gradually grown into the backbone of the development of Chinese film. This SIFF also provides more practical opportunities for talent training. In the first SIFF SHOOTING 48H, 8 teams formed by young filmmakers that stood out from 120 registered teams spent 48 hours in capturing the vigor and vim of the Lingang Special Area.

Benefit a broad audience by spreading the tender care in films

Film Panorama at each SIFF is always popular among movie fans. During this SIFF, there were a total of 1,423 screening sessions in 40 cinemas in Shanghai, with more than 320,000 moviegoers and 26 post-screening meetings. Among these moviegoers, 72.3% are movie fans in Shanghai, and there are also a large number of movie fans from Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing and other places. The 40 cinemas dwell both in the central city and in the five new urban areas in Jiading, Qingpu, Songjiang, Fengxian, and Nanhui. While the screening cover wider areas, the viewing experience is also better. Internationally adopted film screening technical specifications such as IMAX, Dolby, China Giant Screen, CINITY, etc. have played a vital role at this SIFF to make the screening more diversified.

Shanghai is a city for the people, so does SIFF. In addition to cinema screenings, this SIFF has also set up seven screening venues in Bingang Commercial Center, Jinqiao International Commercial Plaza, Life Hub Upbund, Songjiang Yunjian Granary Cultural and Creative Park, Fengxian Museum, and Jiading Xiyun Tower, and Global Harbor. During the 10 days of SIFF, 27 films and more than 60 sessions were shown.

On the evening of June 17, a group of sanitation workers were invited to the screening venue in Hongkou District. These “city beauticians” who maintain the beauty of this city everyday with their hard work and sweat also enjoyed the charm of the movie and the city’s warmth by watching the movie. Zheng Dasheng, the co-director of the film “1921”, said: “Open-air screening is a very precious experience for urban life. The open screeningof SIFF is practically significant to the cultural reconstruction.”

On June 12, the anti-epidemic documentary film “Days and Nights in Wuhan” in “A Hundred-Year Journey - Red Film Art” unit of this SIFF’s Film Panorama was specially produced in a barrier-free version, allowing the visually impaired to share this tear-jerking film through the sound effects of the film and the narration track played separately in the headset, and once again conveying the temperature of the Shanghai International Film Festival...

Being oriented to the “14th Five-Year Plan” and 2035, as China grows from a country with a large film market to one with a strong film industry, SIFF, driven by innovation, is stepping up to a new level each year, allowing the people to share the fruits of world civilization through films, while meeting cultural needs and enhancing spiritual power.