SIFF\'s Efforts on Promoting the Co-production

The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) makes its efforts on promoting the world\'s collaboration and its role on Co-production Film by siging an agreement between its "Co-Production Film Pitch and Catch (Co-FPC)" and "the Berlinale Co-production Market" on Feb 9. Over 600 guests from the film industry including Ulrich Gregor, Jury President of SIFF\'s Asian New Talent Award 2008 and Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Juror of SIFF\'s Jin Jue Award 2007 , attend the event.

Maria Grazia Cucinotta publicly introduced the first Sino-Italy co-production film for the first time during the event. As one of the selected projects for SIFF\'s Co-FPC in 2008, the film tells a story about the hero and heroine regain the meaning of life after a joyful journey. Producers from both China and Italy showed great interest and reached agreement quickly. Ms. Cucinotta believes the audience, espcially those in China, will enjoy the film of a brand new style.
 

The reasons for the producers\' confidence are largely because of China Film Market\'s strong presence in last year, together with its promisng future. In spite of the world economy crisis influence, the box office in China hits the record of over 4 bllion RMB and is led by such co-production films as Red Cliff, If You Are the One, Forever Enthralled and Painted Skin.

In fact, the co-production will be the trend for its effectivly intergrating sources of all sides and greatly avoiding the financial risks. In the year 2008, SIFF initiated the Co-production Film Pitch and Catch. Among all 162 signing-ups, most were submitted by young, innovative and promising filmmakers. At last, 35 of the 40 selected reached agreements after a total number of nearly 450 face to face meeting with over 200 investors.

Ms. Tang Lijun, managing dierctor of SIFF, said:"The co-production is now on its right track regarding to either the current situation or the quality and quantity of the Co-production Film itself. The advantage of the co-production will be more remarkable, especially at the crucial moment of global economic crisis. As SIFF\'s strategic importance, the Co-FPC and CFPC (China Film Pitch and Catch) wil promote film industry\'s development and prosperity of both China and the whole world with the international cooperation."

In addition, SIFF\'s well-organized Country Table in Berlinale, has the participation of not only China\'s big film companys like China Film Group, Bona Film Group and Ciwen Film Group but also those who are from overseas and show great interest in working with China.

The 12th Shanghai International Film Festival will be held June 13-21 while its Co-FPC will be last for 3 days from June 15 to 17. Entries will be accepted online at www.siff.com.