Full Support for Young Directors

As an important event of the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival, SIFF Film Market was held on 14th, June at Shanghai Exhibition Center. And CFPC (China Film Pitch and Catch), is a program of SIFF Film Market.

Compared to the CFPC last year, more young directors will be involved in the CFPC this year.  SIFF sources reveal that the selection system for the CFPC has been adjusted this year to focus more on younger directors. This move was intended to help promote one of the program\'s original purposes: that of support young directors. Five experts from film-related industries like playwriting, film publishing and film co-production have selected eight young directors for the CFPC this year. These eight young directors will get to train with a famous German film producer; one of the training programs will focus on marketing and building film awareness.

As a program of SIFF MART, CFPC was established in 2007 with the purpose to promote the rising Chinese filmmakers. Every year, 8 Chinese projects and their directors will be selected in this program. The international marketing potential is an essential requirement for the submitted projects. During the festival, these 8 directors are given the opportunity to get professional coaching and later to give presentations to film production companies and the media. "Most Creative Project" will be voted by the jury, with an amount of award prize as the project foundation.

The 8 projects and their directors will also be included in individual meetings of Co-FPC. Through face to face meetings, project representatives and investors are encouraged to take the opportunity to reach possible cooperation. The 8 projects can also compete for "Most Promising Project to Invest" in the Co-FPC program. It is determined by buyers\' evaluation with a specific amount of project foundation awarded.

It integrates various resources from home and abroad: SIFF has the honor of gathering film projects with good quality and prestigious international capital, and of finding an ideal way for all parties to meet and produce fruitful results. CFPC is the official stage where Chinese rising directors can present their talents, creations and courage.

In China, education about the film industry is not emphasized by film colleges, so many young directors pay too much attention to individuality and end up ignoring important market factors. It\'s likely one of the reasons that their works do not receive universal acclaim. Building market awareness will be an important starting point for these young directors and will be one of the focal points of this year\'s CFPC.