Argentina, Guest of Honor of the 12th BJIFF
The 12th BJIFF will be held in Beijing from August 13 to 20. To establish a more comprehensive, high-end and diversified international exchange platform with enhanced international influence, Argentina will serve as the Guest of Honor this year. We will join hands with Argentine Embassy in China to organize various exciting events.
Sharing Resources The project of Argentina as Guest of Honor has been included in the framework of 2022 China-Argentina Year of Friendship and Cooperation with cultural exchange platform
Argentina is located in southern South America as the second largest country in Latin America. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina. In February this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized in his meeting with Argentine President Fernández that he was willing to announce together the launch of the 2022 China-Argentina Year of Friendship and Cooperation, so as to actively carry out exchanges in terms of culture, education, sports, media, youth and regions, facilitate personnel exchanges and promote the bond between our two countries. In response to this important event, the BJIFF this year has invited Argentina to serve as the Guest of Honor, which has been included in the framework of the 2022 China-Argentina Year of Friendship and Cooperation.
A Still of The Secret In Their Eyes
Argentine cinema has always been an outstanding exponent of Latin American culture for decades, standing out as one of the main audiovisual expressions in the Spanish language. In the 1990s and 2000s there appeared a renewed trend known as "The New Argentine Cinema” with a lot of outstanding filmmakers such as Bruno Stagnaro, Adrián Caetano, Pablo Trapero and Lucrecia Martel. In this new stage, two Argentine films were nominated for the Academy Award "Oscar”: The Secret In Their Eyes (2009) by Juan José Campanella, award winner for best foreign film in 2010; and Wild Stories (2014) by Damián Szifrón.
Poster of A School In Cerro Hueso
Looking back at the BJIFF over the past decade, many Argentine films have been shortlisted for the “Tiantan Award" and “Beijing Film Panorama”. The film Paulina won the 6th BJIFF Tiantan Award for best film, best screenplay and best actress. Other Argentine films such as A School In Cerro Hueso, Wild Stories and My Masterpiece were also screened for Chinese audience at the BJIFF. The BJIFF this year has invited Argentina as the Guest of Honor so as to open a window for film fans to understand Argentine culture. Meanwhile, the promotion of Argentine films will attract more domestic film companies to Argentine film industry and the film production strategy, promote bilateral cooperation and realize resource sharing.
Shape the Future Rich elements of Argentine-themed film and television promote bilateral industrial development
To promote the film exchange platform between China and Argentina, the BJIFF this year has invited Tristan Bauer, Argentine Minister of Culture, as the honor guest. Mr. Bauer will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony on August 13 with his best wishes for the bilateral exchanges in the film industry.
Minister Tristan Bauer
With the assistance of Argentine Embassy in China, we have invited Lucrecia Martel, famous Argentine director, to serve as the jury member of “Tiantan Award” this year. Many of her films, such as The Swamp, The Holy Girl and Zama, have been shortlisted for the main competition section of the Cannes and Berlin film festivals many times. In 2006, she served as a jury member on the main competition section of the 59th Festival de Cannes. In 2019, she served as the jury president on the main competition section of the 76th Venice International Film Festival.
Lucrecia Martel, jury member of “Tiantan Award”
The “Argentine Film Week” will be held at the this year’s BJIFF with 5 high-quality films such as Máquina Para Ver El Alma, The Heist Of The Century, Zama, The Secret In Their Eyes and The Motorcycle Diaries screened online and offline.
In addition, the opening ceremony of “Argentine Film Week” will be held on the evening of August 14. The representatives of Argentine Embassy in China and the BJIFF Organizing Committee will attend the ceremony to deliver speeches. It’s a rare opportunity for the Chinese people to get to know Argentine films, artists and filmmakers. We hope to build a bridge for bilateral cultural exchanges and display the sincere friendship through films.
Poster of Argentine film Máquina Para Ver El Alma
The BJIFF has always adhered to the principle of "Sharing the Screen, Shaping the Future” and played an irreplaceable role in enhancing the Chinese film industry. The 12th BJIFF this year will also organize various events such as Argentina as the Guest of Honor to expand the "circle of friends”, follow the trend of film market trend and achieve the innovation.
The 12th BJIFF will be held from August 13 to 20 to compose a new chapter, provide all the fans with valuable and warm films as well as carry out diversified film exchanges and cooperation at multiple levels worldwide!