Enjoy the romance of springtime, live our film dream, and advance together with passion. On the afternoon of April 25, the press conference for the Jury of Tiantan Award, the Competition section of the 13th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), was held at the Grand Ballroom, Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center. The jury president Chinese director Zhang Yimou, as well as other jury members including Chinese Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan, Israeli director Nadav Lapid, Thai director Pimpaka Towira, Chinese actor Zhang Songwen, and Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu, were present at the event. It is with regret that Fernando E. Juan Lima, President of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, was unable to appear due to his schedule. 

At the event, the six jury members, with their love and passion for cinema, had a sincere and professional conversation with all the media professionals present.

Zhang Yimou, an internationally acclaimed director and a landmark figure in the history of both Chinese and world cinema, was warmly welcomed by the journalists present as the jury president of the BJIFF for the first time. Talking about how to find a common emotional language in the world like Chinese-style romance when making films, he believes that human beings all over the world share the same basic emotions, and that on this basis, shaping the characters and deconstructing the story is sure to move the audience, “A good film work is one that evokes an emotional response from all people.” 

From experiencing the era of filming rationing at studios, witnessing the establishment of cinema chains in China, to growing into one of China’s most influential directors who ushered in the era of Chinese blockbusters, Zhang has been burning with creativity and keeping acute insights into the market for nearly 40 years. At the event, when asked “where China’s film market is heading”, he shared his views, “China will focus on expanding the scale of the film market and strengthening the quality of film, and most importantly, we should go global, letting Chinese culture, Chinese works, and sentiments of Chinese people shape the world.” Further, he also called upon all filmmakers to “do their own part, put their heart and soul into filmmaking, work hard for the film career, and strive for high-quality films. If that’s what everyone thinks and does, there will surely be a promising market.” 

For a few years now, the BJIFF has kept improving the system of fostering young directors, and focused more on cooperation with the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF). This year, a number of outstanding projects from the HKIFF have been invited to participate in the second-round selection of the Hong Kong, China Subsection, part of the BJIFF Project Pitches.

In terms of attention to and support for young filmmakers, the practice of Stanley Kwan, who has been devoting himself to helping and nurturing new blood as a mentor, ties in with that of the BJIFF. Touching upon “how the BJIFF can better create opportunities for young filmmakers”, he said that the festival’s Project Pitches section plays a pivotal role in fostering young directors and providing opportunities for young filmmakers. And the continued improvement of its rules and principles will be helpful to young filmmakers in creating good works.

Meet in Beijing in spring, and let’s be part of this next chapter of world cinema with passion. At the press conference, the profound understanding and vision of the six jury members of the Tiantan Award on the current situation of the film industry and its present and future development not only made the media members present feel confident about the strong rebound of world cinema, but also aroused everyone’s interest in the winners of this year’s Tiantan Award categories!