SIFF Signs MOU on Film Culture Exchange with 14 Countries along “ The Belt and Road”

As another major international culture event following The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the 20th Shanghai International Film Festival has penetrated the promotion of “The Belt and Road” cultural exchange into the entire Festival. On June 17, the first activity of the “The Belt and Road” serial programs – Signing Ceremony of “The Belt and Road” Film Culture Exchange Cooperation was held, with Deputy Director of SARFT ZHANG Hongsen present.

On The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation closed in May, President XI Jinpiing said: “For thousands of years, the Silk Road Spirit - peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit - has been passed from generation to generation.”

The spirit of the ancient Silk Road is the precious heritage of human civilization, and working together to promote the "The Belt and Road" construction is the common aspiration of the people along. ZHANG Hongsen, Deputy Director of SARFT said in his speech: "Film culture exchange can significantly promote the mutual understanding and cooperation of the people along the “The Belt and Road”. Hope the filmmakers could take this as an opportunity to further enhance the exchanging and cooperation in film co-production, film screening and film festivals; take cinema as a cultural link to continue the cultural traditions Silk Road and spur the integration and development of diversified culture and civilization in world cinema.

WU Xiaoming, Artistic Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV introduced the background of the “The Belt and Road” film cultural exchange cooperation to the guests and media present.

The film & TV culture plays an important role in the cultural exchange among the countries along the “The Belt and Road”, so Shanghai International Film Festival takes the lead in promoting the "The Belt and Road" cultural exchange. This year, SIFF carried out a series of thematic activities featuring “The Belt and Road” co-production contract-signing, “The Belt and Road” round-table forums and “The Belt and Road” film recommendation. The Film Market also set up a special “The Belt and Road” pavilion to facilitate the communication of film institution professionals from the countries along. Jackie Chan Action Movie Week, SIFF Opening & Closing Ceremony, etc. have also shown a wealth of “The Belt and Road” cultural exchange elements.

At the ceremony, the film festivals and film institution representatives from the 14 “The Belt and Road” countries came on the stage and left their signatures on a scroll which fully embodied the Chinese characteristics, marking the formal launching of the MOU on “The Belt and Road” Film Culture Exchange.

Attached:

List of signatory representatives from each “The Belt and Road” country
(in English alphabetical order by the initial of country name)
 
Shanghai International Film Festival , Managing Director   FU Wenxia
Cairo International Film Festival, Assistant Artistic Director   Ahmed SHAWKY
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Head of International Communications    Hannes AAVA
Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Director   Élise JALLADEAU
Miskolc International Film Festival, Festival Director   Tibor BIRO
Mumbai Film Festival, Creative Director   Smriti KIRAN
Cinema Development Centre of Indonesia, Ministry Of Education and Culture, Head of film permit and management unit     M.kholid Fathoni
Silk Road Film Festival, Founder/ Chairman   Carla MOONEY
Kazakhstan Cinema LLP, Co-Founder   Diana ASHIMOVA
National Film Centre of Latvia, Director   Dita RIETUMA
Vilnius International Film Festival, Industry Manager   Rita STANELYTE
EYE Film Institute Netherlands, Project Coordinator   Nathalie MIEROP
Netherlands Film Festival/Holland Film Meeting, Head of Industry    Vanja KALUDJERCIC
Quezon City International Film Festival, Director   Ed LEJANO
Ukrainian Motion Picture Association, Executive Director   Victoria YARMOSHCHUK