The BE SEEN Youth Actors Support Program is designed to build a support platform for young actors. Acting training camps will be organized through script reading, environmental theatre and other forms of activities to improve actors’ professional quality and help them gain practical experience in acting. Meanwhile, it will build an industrial exchange platform for young creators to achieve the creative transformation and innovative development of literary and artistic works.

The Release Ceremony of the BE SEEN Youth Actors Support Program (hereinafter referred as the “BE SEEN Program”) was held at the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) on the afternoon of April 20. Guests and representatives from the China Film Foundation, the host of the event, the first batch of initiators, namely Shanghai Film Group, Changchun Film Group, Xiying Group and Guangxi Film Group, Poly Film Investment Co., Ltd., the co-host of the event, Beijing Film Academy, the first support university, Light Chaser Animation and Youku, the first batch of industrial support units, CNR Media Group and Alibaba Pictures, along with specially-invited filmmakers, such as veteran artist Tian Hua, actors Lin Jiachuan and Wen Qi, and young directors Huang Xin, Chen Zouming, Cui Congcong and Lu Helai, were present at the event and together witnessed the successful launch of the BE SEEN Program.

　　

The release ceremony started with a chronicle promotional video, which reviewed the development of Chinese cinema in over seven decades. Numerous classic works, frames and characters depicted the emergence and growth of Chinese filmmakers from generation to generation, and expressed the constant love and sincerity of Chinese film industry. The core goal of the BE SEEN Program is to create industrial resource support channels in all chains for young actors, and let more young actors be discovered. Yan Xiaoming, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Film Foundation, the host of the event, said in his opening remarks that BE SEEN is an innovative, non-profitable and systematic talent cultivation program. While building a cooperation and exchange platform between young actors and the film industry, and providing them with more opportunities, the program is also dedicated to presenting the classic culture to the audience in new forms, and promoting the organic combination of cultural inheritance and innovation of the times.

　　

　　Yan Xiaoming, Vice Chairman of China Film Foundation

Tian Hua, head of the Special Fund for Film Performing Arts of the China Film Foundation, introduced the preparatory process and operation mode of the program. Through the “Actor Cultivation” and “Industry” sections, the BE SEEN Program will transform classic film IPs into the environmental theatre, script reading and other forms, so as to provide a diversified display and performance platform for actors. Besides, it will launch the brand new BE SEEN experimental theatre to achieve the precise docking and cooperation between young actors and young directors and their works on various pitching platforms at home and abroad. 

　　

　　Director Tian Hua

The BE SEEN Program pools top resources and advantages across the industry. Tian Hua extended her thanks to Shanghai Film Group, Changchun Film Group, Xiying Group and Guangxi Film Group for offering film copyrights in a non-profitable way, and other support units such as Poly Film Investment Co., Ltd., Beijing Film Academy, Light Chaser Animation, Youku, etc. Bao Shenghua, General Manager of Changchun Film Group, stated that he hopes this program can help young talents with dreams grow into backbone forces of Chinese cinema on the basis of classic movies. Li Weiqiang, Chairman of Poly Film Investment Co., Ltd., believed that the program will inject new innovations and vitality into Chinese film industry.

　　

　　Bao Shenghua, General Manager of Changchun Film Group

　　

　　Li Weiqiang, Chairman of Poly Film Investment Co., Ltd.

At the launch ceremony, professor Zhang Hua from Beijing Film Academy, who once trained numerous performing talents, such as Zhang Songwen, Zhou Yiwei, Jiang Qinqin and Fu Dalong, and famous actor Lin Jiachuan and actress Wen Qi delivered speeches as Art Director, Special Senior Fellow Student and Youth Convener of the BE SEEN Program respectively. They expected the program to provide actors who are not seen temporarily with more opportunities to show their talents, and called on young actors to join the program to improve acting skills and make breakthroughs. Veteran artist Tian Hua, Honorary Advisor of the BE SEEN Program, who is over 90 years old, also showed up at the event. “I hope young people follow the times and teachers to forge ahead steadily and never stand still in their actor career,” she said. Her heartfelt remarks moved the attendees, and the gathering of three generations of filmmakers also became the most meaningful scene of the whole release ceremony. Moreover, over 20 famous actors, including Huang Bo, Huang Xiaoming, Xu Zheng, Duan Yihong, Wan Qian, Huang Xuan, Yang Yang, Liu Haocun, Zhou Yiwei, Li Guangjie, Ma Sichun, Moses Chan, Bao Bei’er, Bai Ke, Sunny Sun, Samantha Ko, Regina Ho, Bosco Wong, Li Jiaqi, Chen Duling and Li Gengxi, also extended their best wishes for the successful launch of the BE SEEN Program.

　　

　　Veteran artist Tian Hua

　　

　　Lin Jiachuan

　　

　　Wen Qi

As the top priority of the launch event, the signing ceremony of 18 film copyrights licensing provided the BE SEEN Program with the first batch of classic films for adaptation, including Old Well, Red Sorghum, Dislocation, Visitors on the Icy Mountain, The Gunshots of Secrecy Bureau, Confidential Agent No. 5, Yellow Earth, The Big Parade, One and Eight, The Beautician and the Artist, Girlfriends of the Same Age, and Man's Dilemma. Zhao Wentao, Chairman of Xiying Group, Bao Shenghua, General Manager of Changchun Film Group, Tao Zhongmin, Deputy General Manager of Guangxi Film Group, Yan Xiaoming, Vice Chairman of the China Film Foundation, jointly signed non-profitable copyrights. 

　　

　　Signing of studios

Song Yiyi, producer of Chang An from Light Chaser Animation, Guan Xu, Vice President of Alibaba Pictures, and Jiang Tao, Vice Chairman of the China Film Foundation, jointly signed the licensing of the film Chang An. Besides, young directors Huang Xin, Chen Zouming, Cui Congcong and Lu Helai, along with Tian Hua, head of the Special Fund for Film Performing Arts of the China Film Foundation, signed non-profitable copyrights of several film projects, including Alien Observer of Earth Civilization, What for, Rhapsody, Premiere in Heaven, and Yesterday Once More, which received nominations or won awards at major film festivals and exhibitions, such as the Golden Rooster Project Market, Silk Road International Film Festival, Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival, etc. They are committed to expanding more diversified industrial cooperation channels for young filmmakers, and discovering more possibilities. In addition, the BE SEEN Program will set up the Youth Creation Committee, and the four above-mentioned young directors will serve as the first batch of directors of the committee, thus carrying out sustainable creative exchanges in the future.

　　

　　Signing of Chang An

　　

　　Signing of young directors

Subsequently, Zhang Pimin, Chairman of the China Film Foundation, issued letters of appointment to representatives of initiators, the host, partners and support units. All leaders, guests and actors present at the event together pressed the starter of “BE SEEN Program”, pushing the vibe of the release ceremony to a new high. We believe that the BE SEEN Program will remain true to its original aspiration, live up to our expectations, and accompany Chinese filmmakers to forge ahead and create a brighter future with the support of the whole industry. 

　　

　　Group photo