“The film The Pact was based on a true story between the famous author know for Out of Africa and a young poet. Why did you choose this subject for your film?” “Did the story originate from the director's own growing up experience? Did you also have these experiences in your childhood?” “I'm very concerned about the hostage taking place at the opera house back then, do you think melodrama would be more powerful than documentary when it comes to this subject?” The Q&A covered a wealth of content including the creation of the film, personal growth experience, and social issues. The audience was able to enjoy a valuable audiovisual feast once again through the screen in the Giant Screen Room after the screening.

 

At the end of meet-and-greet with Cast & Crew after the screening of the Last Film Show, director of the film surprised the audience by revealing that it was the birthday of the film's producer. The audience sent birthday wishes across the screen to the guests afar. Everyone was cheering “Happy birthday!”, adding joy and warmth to the screening event.

 

Director Izuru Narushima and actress Sayuri Yoshinaga of the Japanese film—A Morning of Farewell recorded a special video to greet the audience and share their experience in creating and performing in the film. The film ties together the themes of “foster care” and “end-of-life treatment”, and explores the modern Japanese medical system around the theme—“Is medical care just about curing the sick?” 

 

Moreover, the cast & crew of two Chinese films—Before Next Spring and Beyond the Skies showed up and met the audience.

 

Before Next Spring had its Asian premiere at Poly International Cinema, Tiananmen, Beijing on the evening of September 19. Based on the director's real-life experience, the film tells the story of exchange student Li Xiaoli (played by Xie Chengze), who goes to Japan to study in the remote Fuchinobe in Tokyo for a year.

 

At the premiere, TikTok film recommender and scriptwriter Lei Shen hosted the event. Young director Li Gen, producer Wang Hongwei, and leading actors and actresses of the film including Qi Xi, Xie Chengze, Niu Chao, Qiu Tian, Song Ningfeng and Chen Yongzhong appeared on the red carpet. Yao Chen, Cao Yu, Xie Xiaojing, Zhu Wen, Lu Yang, Midi Z, Liu Lili and other guests also came to the theater and expressed their praise for director Li Gen’s feature film debut.

 

The most special audience, Li Xuejian, father of director Li Gen, interacted with his son with warmth. His almost harsh yet caring love touched the audience present.

In the evening of September 24, Beyond the Skies held a screening event to tell the audience the story of a Red Army soldier who had just experienced a combat setback, received orders to blow up a bandits’ ammunition depot within 48 hours, and set out on a journey alone to face a life-and-death choice.

 

TikTok film recommender Detective Buyi served as the host. Director Liu Zhihai, producer Xu Xiaoming, screenwriter Zhou Jiali, cinematographer Mi Xinjun, leading actors Chen Weixin, Nie Jinquan, and Lin Yi, as well as executive producer Wei Xiaofei came to the scene to share their behind-the scene stories, such as the film's ideas, artistic approach, and performance, with the BJIFF audience.

 

Su Zhigang, professor at the School of Audio Visual Arts & Communication of BFA, Cao Ting, professor at the Photography School of BFA, and director Li Ruijun attended the screening, and shared their experience with the cast & crew and audience.

 

Although the roles in films were in different regions and of different ages, they conveyed similar emotions, and earned the audience’s laugh, cry and big rounds of applause. The remote interaction between the international casts & crews and the audience is not a pity, but a proof of the flourishing development of China's film industry and cinema technologies in recent years. No matter how far apart from world-class filmmakers, their film spirit gets across. In this way, Beijing proves that “filmmakers are always together”.

 

The screening event of all 15 shortlisted films for Tiantan Award concluded successfully. Please continue to follow up the 11th BJIFF and find out winners of the Award. Beijing Satellite TV will broadcast the Closing & Awards Ceremony on September 29. Stay tuned!