The Phase II “Development Workshop” of the 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival · SIFF NEXT 2020 was successfully held on December 14-16 at the Shanghai Film Academy of Shanghai University. Under the guidance of 4 professional mentors, film makers of 6 shortlisted projects went through an intensive and fulfilling 2-day “Development Workshop”. The public presentation was delivered to the media and industry guests on December 16.
SIFF NEXT is a new session for the incubation of new talents launched by the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2019. SIFF PROJECT with the history of 13 years has mainly focused on industry exchange and matchmaking. Unlike it, SIFF NEXT shifts its focus from projects to new filmmaking individuals. It is more committed to explore and support potential new filmmakers, offering more targeted support for them to better enter the industry and complete their first or second feature films through progressive activities.
2020 SIFF NEXT Finalist
SIFF NEXT developed 20 young filmmakers to the industry in 2019, launching 7 feature film projects in development, such as “The Game”, “Username: Cindy”, “Stuck”, and “the Wreck”. 2020 marks the second year of the new and upgraded SIFF NEXT, receiving 434 applications and finally selecting 10 directors, 5 screenwriters, and 5 producers. In early November, SIFF NEXT solicited feature film projects in development from this year\'s and previous trainees. 6 finalists: TAN Shihan, JIANG Feng, TANG Chengqin, WANG Yiwen, LIU Ran and ZHOU Xing were selected by the jury, and came to Shanghai with their projects and team to attend a three days of closed-door workshop.
Finalists with Four Mentors
Director ZHENG Dasheng and Pengfei, as well as screenwriter JIAO Huajing and producer DUN He were specially invited as mentors for this year’s “Development Workshop”. During the first two days of the closed-door workshop, the mentors had an in-depth discussion with each project owner on script, development, filming, etc, not only sorting out and finding the possible development direction of the project, but also providing more specific suggestions on script modification and sharing experiences on shooting schedule and fund raising.
Mentors of Phase II
When talking about the shortlisted projects of this year, the mentors were full of praise. From the opinion of ZHENG Dasheng, although the shortlisted projects were the first feature films of these new directors, "each of them has a special personality. If I have to mention one in common, it’s the topics they choose that stories in their hearts are full of unlimited development potential.”
To these finalists, public presentation on the last day of SIFF NEXT was not only their first collective appearance in front of the media and the industry, but also an important "rehearsal" for entering the industry. At the event, apart from three mentors, ZHENG Dasheng, Pengfei and DUN He, HE Xiaoqing, Executive Dean of Shanghai Film Academy, professionals from the Jing’an and Songjiang District Cultural and Tourism Administration, and industry guests from Alibaba Pictures Group, Dangmai Fimls, Tencent Pictures, PMF Pictures, Jet Tone Films and Jingshu Culture, as well as dozens of media listened to the project presentations of the trainees and witnessed their growth and transformation.
Finalists with Mentors and Guests
In the roundtable discussion, the three mentors as seniors shared their own experience from the perspectives of topic selection and cost control. In addition to their encouragement, ZHENG Dasheng and Pengfei also coincidentally reminded filmmakers to “focus the pursuit of” one dimension and one quality thoroughly, instead of pursuing everything. DUN He also offered his pertinent suggestions as a producer, “When participate a project, filmmakers need to present your firmest ideas with deep thoughts, and your feelings cannot be the whole content of a film.”
Mentor Roundtable
After considering the originality and operability of the projects, the mentors finally selected two Best SIFF NEXT Projects: "Just a Farewell to the Yellow Soapberry Garden at 4:00 pm" and “The Reunion”, which were directly shortlisted for the 24th SIFF Project in 2021. “The Man Who Fought Ali” was specifically mentioned and encouraged by the mentors.
Best SIFF NEXT Project
"Just a Farewell to the Yellow Soapberry Garden at 4:00 pm"
Best SIFF NEXT Project “The Reunion”
The "original intention" of SIFF NEXT is to support more talented new filmmakers to start, grow and be discovered from here, and gradually move towards a broader film world. SIFF NEXT 2021 will start recruitment soon. We look forward to having more outstanding young directors, screenwriters and producers to meet in Shanghai and join us, exchanging and cooperating to create more excellent Chinese films in the future.
SIFF NEXT
SIFF NEXT is one of the sessions for the incubation of new talents at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Shifting the focus from projects to new filmmaking individuals, the program is designed to offer more targeted support for them to enter the industry and complete their first or second feature films. SIFF NEXT is divided into two phases, held respectively in June and December each year. In Phase I - during the SIFF, shortlisted members will participate in the main activities of the "Training Workshop", Film Panorama and SIFForum to acquire film festival experience and also communicate with domestic first-line film workers to expand industry resources, enrich practical experience, and prepare for the development of new projects. Phase II Development Workshop will be held in December of that year. The feature film projects and draft scripts from this year’s and previous finalists will be called for in order to select about 6 projects to enter the “Development Workshop” of this Phase. Senior film workers will be invited as mentors to provide in-depth targeted guidance on script, development, casting, etc. for the shortlisted projects. And they will select 2 projects as the finalists for the SIFF Project in the following year.
SIFF NEXT 2021
Producer ｜ Screenwriter ｜ Director
Application: 2021.02.01-03.01
siffnext@siff.com
www.siff.com
Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism
