The 13th BJIFF Hosts “Her in Films” Workshop to Tell Stories about Her Well and Carry Forward the Power of Her
The 13th BJIFF “Her in Films” Workshop, guided by the Publicity Department of the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) and hosted by the BJIFF Organizing Committee was concluded successfully at the Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center on April 24. Li Shaohong, director and President of the China Film Director’s Guild (CFDG), screenwriter and director Qin Haiyan, actress Tong Liya, young actress Wang Jiayi, Dong Wenjie, renowned presenter, producer and Chairman of the Meridian Entertainment Co., Ltd., Li Wenwen, Vice President of the PMF Pictures and senior producer, Li Ran, Dean of the International School, Beijing Film Academy, producer Ye Ting, and staff from the BJIFF Organizing Committee Office and ACWF Publicity Department were present with Wu Yanyu, Editor-in-Chief of the DoMore, as moderator.
“Her in Films” Workshop
In the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s major speeches, especially at the Forum on Literature and Art, the Workshop discussed the power of her in filmmaking with a view to facilitate the rise of women through films, and showcase women in the new era in the form of art. As Cui Yan from the BJIFF Organizing Committee addressed, starting with the Workshop, the BJIFF would hopefully build a platform for female filmmakers to make their voices heard, and all sectors of the society can understand the important role and power of women in the development of the film industry; attendees at the Workshop were encouraged to share their filmmaking experience, and vision for the bright future and creation of female-themed films; and various stakeholders would be united to support young female filmmakers, and inject new vitality into the upward and healthy growth of the film industry.
Wu Yanyu
Wu Yanyu, Editor-in-Chief of the DoMore and moderator of the Workshop, introduced topics, such as female characters in Chinese films, outlook on and innovation in female-themed films, and challenges and opportunities for female filmmaking, for guests present to exchange their ideas. Guests present talked about female-themed films in China and status quo of female characters in Chinese films based on their previous professional experiences as well as filmmaking and character creation experience.
Li Shaohong
As Li Shaohong, director and President of the China Film Director’s Guild (CFDG), pointed out, we need more female filmmakers, and more importantly, keep open-minded regarding the content. And we should work on addition of subject matters and filmmakers, and produce more female-themed works that are useful for the society and women, render women widely visible, and attract the attention of society towards women. The CFDG Young Director Support Program is devoted to support young filmmakers in filming. Half of the supported are female directors, who managed to stand firm on their own feet. It proves female directors can support themselves in the industry. The film festival may set up a female-themed film section, and select outstanding young filmmakers and female-themed films so as to truly help women in the society and enhance the visibility of the women group.
Qin Haiyan
In the view of screenwriter and director Qin Haiyan, both production companies and filmmakers will take into account if female audiences can identify themselves with the female characters in a film. The Woman in the Storm to be released soon talks about domestic violence. It tells the story of how a married woman subject to domestic violence gets herself out of the abyss with the help of a young female lawyer. The film highlights that the adoption of the Anti-Domestic Violence Law of the People’s Republic of China provides special protection of women, and wishes to contribute to the lawful safeguarding of women’s and children’s rights and interests. The film also narrates survival difficulties against women, and discusses how partners in an intimate relationship get along. Not only female audience but the majority of male audience will find the film relatable. It’s also thought-provoking for the audience with respect to intimate relationships and ways of getting along.
Tong Liya
Actress Tong Liya agreed that artistic and literary works are oriented. Life experiences may improve acting, and bring life to characters in the process of creation. As for The Woman in the Storm starring Tong Liya to be released soon, in her opinion, the film is not only about domestic violence, but also about kinship, mother-child relationship and intimate relationship. All the topics originate from life. Hopefully, the general public will learn to protect their rights and interests with laws. Besides, Tong Liya noticed it’s worth thinking how to ensure female movie-goers of all ages can understand mature female-themed works.
Wang Jiayi
During the exchanges, rising young actress Wang Jiayi mentioned college students of her age are enjoying films and TV series from equal gender perspective in general. In the view of the audience, there is a gap between the number of male and female filmmakers. We do hope female filmmakers can gain more attention and opportunities, and try more possibilities in the production of films and TV series in future. She grew up watching a lot films in which characters were created from the female-themed character, and independent, brave and firm female characters were established step by step. It’s a step forward for the development of the film and television industry. And it laid a foundation and boosted her confidence in her film debut as “Yao Qin” in the Full River Red.
Dong Wenjie
As Dong Wenjie, renowned presenter, producer and Chairman of the Meridian Entertainment Co., Ltd., indicated, the three-year pandemic coupled with various shocks caused huge damaged against the film industry. A major theme of the 13th BJIFF is to boost confidence and give people hope. However, confidence lies in the inflow of diversified capital, such as industry capital, financial capital, state-owned capital and private capital, etc., to the film industry. In this way, a new model of innovation, creation and industry-finance integration will be built. And forces will be united to render China’s film industry strong. On the other hand, faced with severe challenges and circumstances, the setup of a female-themed film section may offer more platforms and opportunities for female filmmakers. Female filmmakers shall not sit back and wait for opportunities, but must unite each other and work together to face difficulties and challenges.
Li Wenwen
Li Wenwen, Vice President of the PMF Pictures and senior producer, expected the discussion on female-themed films can integrate wide attention and hot topics with commerce, story and values. In terms of creation, industry insiders are not just concerned about subject matters, but they expect the natural synergy between values and characters in a story on the whole. Meanwhile, the resilience, power and exquisiteness of female creators should be maximized in the process of creation.
Ye Ting
Producer Ye Ting shared her view of the females ensemble in Chinese films from her professional perspective. In her opinion, the female ensemble in Chinese films are comprised of two parts, namely leading female characters in films and female professionals in the industry. Ye Ting is committed to helping more young female filmmakers to seize market opportunities for their theatrical debut films more efficiently. During the process, Ye Ting noticed works by female creators are mostly from female perspective, which is an advantage for female filmmakers to take creation initiative, collaborate with each other and gain more opportunities in the future.
Li Ran
According to Li Ran, Dean of the International School, Beijing Film Academy, since the inception of the Tiantan Award at the 3rd BJIFF, there have been four female winners of the Best Director title. It’s a great trend and phenomenon. She believes that film is a vehicle that can promote understanding and communication between men and women. Female creators care for women. And they would show issues, difficulties or feelings women have in their life and career; or pay special attention to common social issues from the female perspective. We hope that in an equal and harmonious social environment, men and women can have their own natural division of labor and work together. And films can play a communicative role in such collaboration.
As staff from the ACWF Publicity Department explained, the essential role and political responsibilities of the ACWF including political and ideological guiding of women in the new era, uniting women to obey and follow the Party, and encouraging women to strive for contribution to the era and pursuit of dreams. Hopefully, the Workshop would facilitate in-depth partnership with the BJIFF, maximize the Federation’s role, focus on female perspective, and join outstanding front-line filmmakers, scholars and experts in delivering the mandate of the era, i.e. “telling her stories well and carrying forward the power of her”, and promote the positive energy of women. With respect to making of women’s films, filmmakers are advised to carry forward the core values of socialism, carefully refine and present female characters that represent the new era, uphold social responsibilities and contribute to their families; focus their cameras on grassroots women, dig deeper into the life and spiritual world of grassroots women, and make vivid portrait of the diversified ensemble of ordinary women in all walks of life, and create more down-to-earth, heart-warming and realistic works; broaden the range of subject matters, put more efforts in creating positive female characters and stories, and present to the audience more diverse and flourishing life of women in the new era through films, further tell stories of Chinese women, and convey the power of Chinese women to the world.
The “Her in Films” Workshop would contribute to the better presentation of the power of her in films, and cheer for female filmmakers to stand firm in filmmaking. All the attendees expressed their unanimous resolve to better organize the female-themed section at the BJIFF, boost female filmmakers’ confidence, inject momentum in the development of the film industry, and look forward to prosperous growth of female filmmakers and female-themed films.