The Industry Conversation: Young Directors’ Rise to Power of the Beijing Film Market at the 10th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) was successfully held at the San Sa Village on August 27. Five young directors and winners in previous editions of BJIFF Project Pitches, namely Larry Yang, Tian Li, Yu Qing, Gu Xiaogang, and Xu Lei gathered to share their gains and growth through the BJIFF Project Pitches, discuss their growth as directors, talk about their ideals regarding Chinese films, and reveal their secrets of success to rising directors.

　　Larry Yang, winner of the Projects with Greatest Commercial Potential at the 4th BJIFF Project Pitches for his film Mountain Cry, is a “senior” of BJIFF Project Pitches, and host of the Industry Conversation. At the beginning of the event, he asked how each of the guests became a professional director. It turned out that everyone had a different story. Tian Li graduated from the Department of Directing of Beijing Film Academy. When he graduated with a master’s degree, the development of online productions was in the early stage. While competing in the Project Pitches, he prepared for the online TV series Tientsin Mystic. Because of his devotion to creation, he rose to fame soon; Yu Qing has a dramatic writing degree. He directed several online films, and started directing online TV series; Gu Xiaogang has a clothing marketing degree, and tried shooting documentaries before starting directing feature films; Xu Lei furthered his study at a film college, and then raised funding and directed the Summer Detective starring amateur actors; Larry Yang transferred from economics to film study. He learnt performing art before, and directed TV series and films. And they all participated in the BJIFF Project Pitches with their scripts or film clips.

Larry Yang—Set Your Mind and Validate if Your Goal is Worth Striving for

　　Larry Yang mentioned he did some creation and work before competing in BJIFF Project Pitches. He tried and thought alone. And then he submitted his works to the Project Pitches to validate if his goal is worth striving for, and got him through. Previous winners’ opportunities and conditions may not be reproduced but are worth learning from. The Project Pitches creates an equal opportunity for everyone to showcase their works. He also summarized that every director might started differently but all five of them are firmly determined and seize every directing opportunity available.

Tian Li—Pass the Test of Project Pitches before You are Eligible for Discussing Art

　　Tian Li agreed with Yang’s point of validating. According to him, he made great efforts to write the Wrong Couple Matching (winner of Special Award of the Project Pitches at the 6th BJIFF). He always wanted to complete the project. When he knew about BJIFF Project Pitches, he didn’t hesitate to submit the project despite that he was busy preparing for his online TV series.

　　In Tian Li’s view, what’s great about art is there is no absolutely right or wrong because people’s perception of films is quite personal. But the Project Pitches is like a golden standard. If filmmakers are able to win recognition from jury members of the Project Pitches or other insiders, they are entering the film community for real. There are no good or bad works above the golden standard, only with niche or mass market. According to Tian Li, directors who haven’t met the golden standard are not qualified to talk about films.

Yu Qing—Project Pitches is a Test

　　As Yu Qing pointed out, the Project Pitches doesn’t signify the career start for directors but is more like a test, which checks directors’ comprehensive skillsets, and if they are ready. The script matters a lot in the test. In addition, directors’ ability to narrate stories is also very important. Directors have to take care of implementation and shooting, deal with each department of the crew, get their intentions across, and make sure the team work as one to finish the film.

　　As a young director, Yu Qing shared his requirements for work: “first, set up standards; second, execution. Focus on execution on the basis of high standards.”

Xu Lei—I Dreamed of Director Hirokazu Koreeda Once

　　As Xu Lei explained, he just knew few people in the film community before competing in the Project Pitches. There was no assurance about what he might gain from the event. But he figured out he had to grope through the journey on his own to find out if it worked. For him, it’s a rewarding journey. During the competition, he was matchmade with production companies, met partners, and validated popularity of his work.

　　He also mentioned that he dreamed of director Hirokazu Koreeda once. In his dream, he asked him, “How do you balance the thought-provoking nature and commercial success of your works?” and was replied to with a rhetoric question, “Would anyone enjoy a film devoid of thoughts?”

Gu Xiaogang—Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains is Officially Concluded, Today, and Tomorrow is Another Day

　　According to Gu Xiaogang, he felt like BJIFF Project Pitches was like a date or parents meeting in which his work was like his wife or kid. Both sides of the meeting put their requirements on the table, the destined couple married each other, and delivered a baby—the work.

　　In 2018, the Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains won the Special Award of the Project Pitches at the 8th BJIFF, and got funding. This year, the film was included in the Official Selection of the 10th BJIFF, and was screened during the Online Screenings. In this sense, the film represented an almost perfect success for projects submitted to the BJIFF. Looking ahead, Gu Xiaogang added, “The Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains was officially concluded at the BJIFF, and tomorrow is another day for me back in Hangzhou.”