Best Service Offered to the Audience
On June 7, SIFF opened the booking service for ticket sales. However, many veteran fans had been queuing since 10pm on the night of the 6th.. Some were buying for themselves and some for their sons and even grandsons. On this, Hu replied in somewhat grief. “I do hope that more fans will be able to buy tickets online for their convenience.” Hu also recalled a favorable scene on the morning of June 7: “The cinema managers warmly greeted the old returning fans, as if they had been long old buddies. It reminded me of my precious life spent in my old Lilong neighbourhood in Shanghai.”
This year, SIFF founded its strict system for professional film selection. The selectors will choose from thousands of submitted films those to be screened during the festival. “This year our focus will be how to select good ones among all the international films which have been introduced to China," he said. "Next year we plan to develop our team of overseas selectors. They will decide which films will come to China.” Also next year, the SIFF committee will choose 50 film selectors from ordinary citizens, a blessing indeed for film fans.
Thirty-five cinemas involved in the film screenings have been dressed up to welcome the coming festival. As Hu Jinju said, among over 190 cinemas that applied to join the SIFF film screenings, only 35 were qualified. For its flagship store, Shanghai Film Art Center spent heavily to remodel its No.1 Hall. It now boasts the best acoustics in the world, giving film fans an immersive feeling of the film\'s scenes.
According to regulations, if there is a technical problem during festival film screenings, customers can get a full refund. And the 35 cinemas will be rated to evaluate which one has better viewing results and quality of service.
There\'s a strong trend toward buying tickets online and the internet tickets for the most popular film were sold out within seven minutes. As Hu Jinjun said: "All the fans in Shanghai keep their eyes on a dozen films, but they all want to choose the one screened on Saturday afternoon. So films with a good reputation like Maiko A Lady and Like Father, Like Son are at the very top of the list.”
The film festival guide has been highly praised for its exquisite production. “As a public resource, SIFF should create opportunities for people to enjoy the new ideas and good services of public culture provided by the government,” Hu Jinjun said.
Mr. Hu also said the festival Organizing Committee has invited China\'s famous micro-film author to create screenplays for migrant workers. The best 10 will be selected to be made into short films and participate in Mobile SIFF next year. “Migrant workers have contributed a lot to this city, and they deserve respect. During SIFF, we should give them thanks through films.”
Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism
