Brief Introduction & Time Table
SIFFORUM of the 16th SIFF
The SIFFORUM of the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival was taken place from June 16 to 20, 2013. Under the circumstance of the thriving Chinese film market development, it gather the most of industry elites to share their thoughts on new phenomena, new concept and new ways to explore Chinese market. By presenting a platform for the international industry to exchange ideas, SIFFORUM hopes to provide a guideline to the development of film industry.
President Lecture：Boundary and Power of Image
Time: 10:00-12:00, June 20, 2013
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza Hotel, No.400, Panyu Road
Brief Introduction:
Entering into the new century, cinematic language has experienced various innovation and development. What are the chances that a new cinematic language to be told? How will the cinema world and the real life affect each other? With more and more exchange and mergence occurred inside and outside of the camera lens, where will the boundary of large-scale stage performance and films be? How to capture the essence of different types of art forms to expand the limit of film art? How much can film affect other forms of art to give new definition of itself? Under the moderation of modern artist, Jury presidents of Golden Goblet and Mobile SIFF will talk about films’ future of multi-screen exhibition and collaboration between different art fields.
Keynote Speakers:
Tom Hooper, Director
ZHANG Yuan, Director
Guest Moderator:
FEI Dawei, Critic of contemporary art, Curator
Industry Summit
Industry Summit I. Film Finance Forum CHINA@ SIFF
Creating Content for a Worldwide Audience
Time: June 16, 2013, 13:15-15:25
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza Hotel, No.400, Panyu Road
Brief Introduction:
Keynote Address: Creating Content for a Worldwide AudienceIn addition to promoting Chinese culture globally, reaching a worldwide audience leads to bigger box office numbers and greater returns on film investment. Last year, action and adventure were the most popular genres followed by romance movies. What new trends will emerge and what key ingredients will be necessary for producing and distributing a movie in order to connect with audiences across cultures?
Special Guest：
TSUI Hark, Director
Classifying Equity and Debt Resources and Investment Allocation in China and Abroad
With the increased government support and the exponential growth of the Chinese movie market and audience, an influx of capital has been poured into the film industry in China. This session will address where various resources are coming from, such as equity, debt, private investments or public funding.
PANELISTS: (In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
Michael C. Ellis, President and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific Region, MPA
Bennett Pozil, Executive Vice President, East West Bank
Stephen Scharf, Partner, O\'Melveny & Myers LLP
Stephen Stites, Vice president, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Dong Yu, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Bona Film Group
ZHANG Zhao,CEO, LE Vision Pictures
Ivy ZHONG, Vice Chairman & Executive Director, Beijing Galloping Horse Media Group
Levin ZHU, CEO, Chairman of Management Committee, China International Capital Co., Ltd.
Guest Moderator:
Clifford Coonan, Reporter, Variety
William FENG, Country General Manager & Chief Representative in China, MPA
HOST: Shanghai International Film Festival
EXECUTIVE: WINSTON | BAKER
Shanghai Media Events Co.,Ltd.
Industry Summit II. Film Finance Forum CHINA@ SIFF
Evaluating the Right Films to Invest In and Increasing a Film’s Value
Time: June 16, 2013, 15:30-17:30
Venue: Jin Jue Ballroom, Crowne Plaza Hotel, No.400, Panyu Road
Brief Introduction:
What are the most important factors when looking for projects in China to invest in or acquire for distribution? The great success of Lost in Thailand and Painted Skin 2 demonstrates that Chinese audiences have an appetite for locally produced films over some major Hollywood blockbusters. Which local filmmakers and distributors should investors be working with in order to benefit from the future’s biggest growth opportunities?
PANELISTS:(In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
Ron Giambra, President, Theatrical Worldwide, Rentrak
Polly Johnsen, Principal, Polymorphic Pictures
Helen Lee Kim, Partner and President of International, Good Universe
Maarten Melchior, International Representative, Film and TV Division, Fintage House
REN Zhonglun, President, Chairman, Shanghai Film Group Corporation
Stanley TONG, Producer and Director
WANG Changtian, President, Enlight Media Group
Guest Moderator:
Robb Klein, Partner, Sheppard Mullin LLP
Navigating the World of Co-Financing and Co-Productions
Partnering with other producers and financiers has always been a crucial strategy used for financing films, minimizing cost, and attaining worldwide distribution; however, it is increasingly playing a bigger role in the development of new projects and becoming a more complicated process. This panel will discuss ways to identify the right partners when considering co-production projects; strategies for monetizing subsidies across borders; and present examples of recent co-productions.
PANELISTS: (In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
Mario Andreacchio, Executive Director, AMPCO Films.
Charlie Coker, Manager, Cyrte Investments
David U. LEE, President, Leeding Media
PANG Hong, CEO, Kylin Network (Beijing) Movie & Culture Media Co.
Nansun SHI, Executive Director of Film Workshop Co. Ltd., Chairman of Distribution Workshop
SU Xiao, General Manager, SMG Pictures
Guest Moderator:
Sophia K. YEN, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
HOST: Shanghai International Film Festival
EXECUTIVE: WINSTON | BAKER
Shanghai Media Events Co.,Ltd.
Industry Summit III. Chinese Capital’s Long March to Hollywood
Time：9:30-12:00, June.17th Monday
Venue：Central Hall, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, No.1000, Central Yan’an Road
2012 is a new milestone year of the Chinese film industry. The Chinese box office became the second largest in world after the United States with total box office earnings of over 17 billion yuan. Furthermore, Chinese companies also have a huge impact on the international film industry. After 20 years’ dominance of Hollywood blockbusters in the Chinese market, the Chinese film industry is ready for a counterattack.
In the course of 2012, the Wanda Group acquired AMC Entertainment, China Media Capital (CMC) together with Dream Works established Oriental Dream Works, Chinese entrepreneur Bruno Wu established Seven Stars Media in US, Beijing Galloping Horse Film & TV Production invested in Digital Domain, TCL won the naming rights of the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, and Huayi Bros purchased GDC. Behind this series of overseas acquisition and expansion, are there any behind-the-scenes stories not yet unveiled? Are these transactions valuable? What does the Hollywood community see in this trend? Are there any lessons that the Chinese film industry could draw from companies in other businesses like TCL which have completed the process of globalization? Are there any lessons we can learn from Japanese companies that Hollywood "married" with nearly two decades ago? What did the management, culture, and legal challenges of Chinese companies encounter during their internationalization process?
Guest speaker:(In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
Sid Ganis, Former Vice President of Sony Pictures, Former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
HAO Yi, Vice President, TCL Corporation
Peter LI, Managing Director, China Media Capital
Dennis WANG, Chairman and CEO, Huayi Brothers Media Corporation
WANG Ran, CEO, China eCapital Corporation
YE Ning, Vice President of Wanda Cultural Group, Board Member of AMC Entertainment,Inc.
Ivy ZHONG, Vice Chairman & Executive Director, Beijing Galloping Horse Media Group
Guest Moderator:
Ben JI, Managing Director, Reach Glory Media Group
Industry Summit IV: Big Data: New Motivation of Chinese Films
Time: 9:30-12:00, June 19, 2013
Venue: Central Hall, Shanghai Exhibition Center, No.1000, Central Yan’ an Road
Brief Introduction:
Ever since the internet let viewers’ data talk on the film and TV project, the film industry has encountered a turning point that more and more companies with data information are involved in. After NetFlix succeeded in investing House of Cards, video websites, cinema lines in China and many project holders seem to be enlightened with a brand new financing way.
The analysis of Big Data has been gradually during the creation of a film project. It must produce profound affect in almost every aspect of film industry, from script selection, cast decision, shooting and post production to marketing and sales, etc. Will the current revenue model of video websites be challenged in the new era of "Big Data"? By analyzing, sorting and using the big data, in what aspects can video websites expand their revenue margin? Through collaborating with e-commerce and video websites, will it be another business opportunities for traditional cinema line distribution, or will there be any new form of data be created out of this kind of collaboration? In the near future, by analyzing the big data, is it likely to cultivate a new form of film creation, marketing campaign or distribution? Are we looking for the new multi-screen solutions in film industry? Generally speaking, those who master the usage of the big data, are most likely the one who conquer the traditional film market and the new media market.
PANELISTS: (In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
GONG Yu, Founder & CEO of QIYI.com, INC
Fujian HUANG, Vice President, Douban.com
JIANG Wei, General Manager, EDKO (Beijing) Films Limited
Alex LIU, General Manager, Online Video Department, Tencent Technology (Beijing) Co., LTD
Chun LIU, Vice President & Managing Editor of Sohu, COO of Sohu Video
WANG Bin, General Manager, Shanghai Mobile Video Operations Center
YE Ning, Vice President of Wanda Cultural Group, Board Member of AMC Entertainment,Inc.
ZHANG Wenbo, Vice President, New Classic Media Company
ZHANG Zhao, CEO, LE Vision Pictures
Guest Moderator:
Leon GAO, President & Founder, EntGroup
Industry New Current
Industry New Current I: Producer in Tide: Made-in-China Quality Films
Time: 9:30-12:00, June 18, 2013
Venue: Central Hall, Shanghai Exhibition Center, No.1000, Central Yan’an Road
Brief Introduction:
"Time of blockbusters"in the Chinese film industry has been challenged for the number of low-quality films. As Bill Kong, experienced distributor in Chinese language film market, pointed, "the biggest rival of Chinese language films is the fact of too many low-quality films". From 2012 to 2013, many commercially successful Chinese films won acclaim of audience, including Cold War, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, Lost in Thailand, Finding Mr. Right, So Young and so on, which is a good sign of positive development of the Chinese film industry. Therefore, the panel raises the term of "quality film" to be used when discuss among film producers who present at the forum. What on earth is a "quality film" or a film of high quality? Why is it important to have "quality film" in the Chinese film industry? If we look at the most successful cases of quality film in the recent two years, what factor or element they have in common that ensured the success? Is it necessary for a film to be big budget, in order to be of high quality? Is there any experience, or rules to follow to ensure a high quality Chinese film? Given the cruel truth is that most of the time creation has to take audience expectation into consideration, how should film producers handle the film project to make it with high quality? To which direction should quality Chinese film be heading for? … This panel gathers the most influential film producers in China film market, with the hope of finding a model of "quality film" production.
Keynote Speakers:(In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
Bill KONG, Producer
LEE Lieh, Producer
Philip LEE, Producer
QIN Hong, Chairman, Stellar Mega Media Group Ltd
James WANG, President, Huayi Brothers Media Corporation
Guest Moderator:
HE Ping, Director, Secretary General, China Film Director’s Guild
Industry New Current II: Chinese Productivity in Spotlight : Made by Youth
Time: 13:30-17:00, June 18, 2013
Venue: Central Hall, Shanghai Exhibition Center, No.1000, Central Yan’an Road
Brief Introduction:
In the year 2013, Chinese film market suddenly grows in an explosive and unexpected way. Especially, most of the credit goes to the films made by young talents (not just directors but also script writer, producer, etc.), such as Painted Skin: The Resurrection, Lost in Thailand, Finding Mr. Right, So Young, and etc. However, it is rarely seen in other film markets in the world that mid-size budget films made by young generations are widely accepted by the market. More and more films made by young generation with various themes and genres are, as a matter of fact, a good sign of healthy development of the Chinese film industry. Look into the history, when the "New Hollywood" style substituted the "Old Hollywood" to meet the change of society, it cultivated a group of film creators who collaborated with studios but kept their mind on anti-Hollywood production. Now, under similar circumstance, will Chinese film encounter a healthy and dramatic growth? Will there be a New-Hollywood-like style in Chinese films? Will there be a new genre of so-called quality Chinese film? If so, what it will be look like? How will the younger generation train themselves to master their career path and meet the market needs in the same time? … So, we invite some of the young talents who represent such trend in the Chinese film industry, to draft the blue print of the bright future of Chinese films.
Keynote Speakers:(In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
DU Jiayi, Director
GUO Jingming, Writer, Director
HUANG Bo, Actor
TENG Huatao, Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Xue Xiaolu, Scriptwriter, Director
XU Zheng, Actor, Director
Charlie YOUNG, Actress, Director
ZHANG Meng, Director
Guest Moderator:
HE Ping, Director, Secretary General, China Film Director’s Guild
Master Class
Master Class I: Producers Sharing Their SecretsProducers Sharing Their Secrets
Time: 14:00-18:00, June 16, 2013
Venue: Amber Hall III, Crowne Plaza Hotel, No.400, Panyu Road
Brief Introduction:
Young film directors are often troubled with financing problems. How much investment could a new coming film director find for his project is always a question. Some may even sell their property to such as real estate or vehicles to be able to launch the project. However, there’re always people who can manage do make full use of his resources to fulfill his film project, no matter how much investment he can get. Within limited budget, what are the essentials that producers and young film directors should take into consideration? In this session, two renowned film producers from UK who have plenty of systematic working experience in the industry will share their secret financing tips with audience. Is it possible to produce a creatively successful film with limited and low budget?
Keynote Speakers: (In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
Gary Kurtz, Producer
Julian Alcantara, Producer
Guest Moderator:
Nina HAN, Producer, Distributor
Master Class II: how does film have its influence on real life? Conversation with Oliver Stone AND Johnnie To
Time: 14:00-16:00, June 17, 2013
Venue: Shanghai Film Museum, No.595, North Caoxi Road
Brief Introduction:
After its hundred year long history, film industry has cultivated many masters, whose names are remembered by generations. Master pieces left by them present their understanding, experience and experiment of life through camera. Invented only after Industrial Revolution, movie industry has never been this prosperous and commonly participated in ordinary people’s life as it is in the new century. Consequently, films are gradually affecting people’s life. In the new era of cinema language and production concept, film directors play the role of god, meditator, and philosopher, trying to influence audiences’ idea of world. Nowadays, however, it seems that filmmakers around the world cannot work without thinking of Hollywood model. At the time that audience is so attracted to popcorn and entertaining films, can filmmakers produce more thought provoking films rather than pure entertainment and high-revenue commodity? We are lucky that even though market matters the most, there are great directors in our time, who are keen to pursue their own dream film. While Oliver Stone is someone like them, unique and special, his Chinese counterpart, Similarly, Johnnie To has experienced different phases in his directorial career, but is keen on creating influential films which always mark his brand and style. It must be interesting and worthy to hear about the film masters’ understanding towards films, relationship between films and industry environment, and their expectation between filmmaking and the real life. Hopefully, the conversation will enlighten the exploding Chinese film market.
Keynote Speakers: (In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
Oliver Stone, Director
Johnnie TO, Director
Guest Moderator:
Raymond ZHOU, Film Critic
Master Class III: New Challenge to Older Directors
Time: 14:00-15:30, June 19, 2013
Venue: Central Hall, Shanghai Exhibition Center, No.1000, Central Yan’an Road
Brief Introduction:
It’s commonly known that to be a director is hard, being a young director makes it harder. It is even harder to be a successful veteran film director.
Reviewing the China’s film market in the first half year of 2013, most commercially successful films were directed by young directors. Surprisingly, some of them are directorial debut works of cross-border directors. While the thriving market of young talents encourages the industry, it seems that the young generation is challenging the older generation. Having the most successful and mature market of the world, the United States see numerous films made by young talents, whilst various films made by those big-nose directors are still welcomed. The panel tries to explore the factors, in the era of information, how veteran film directors can keep their mind clear to develop independent ideas and quality projects, also, how they managed to extend their career path. Under the circumstances that talent agency is quite developed, is it still necessary for directors to work together, or should they still seek help from directors union? In this panel, we invite leading roles in directors guild of the two major film markets in the world to share their experience of serving famous directors and helping them to create.
Keynote Speakers:(In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)
Taylor Hackford, Director, President of Directors Guild of America
LI Shaohong, Director, President of China Film Director’s Guild
Guest Moderator:
Raymond ZHOU, Film Critic
Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism