The Beijing Film Panorama this year was brimming with renewed vitality. A total of 16 screening sections were curated, selecting over 250 outstanding films from both Chinese and international filmmakers. These films were screened in more than 27 cinemas and theaters across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, totaling over 800 showings.

　　

　　Scene of a cinema for screening selected films

When it comes to film selection, great attention was given to the planning of several significant sections, such as "Dynamic Youth, Driving Force of Chinese Films", "She Is France", "Retrospective of Tiantan Award Jury President Emir Kusturica", and "Live Theatre".

With the "Dynamic Youth, Driving Force of Chinese Films" section, a selection of works from young directors that are most representative in both the commercial and artistic aspects in recent years have been chosen. This includes genre blockbuster hits such as Brotherhood of Blades and The Wandering Earth: Beyond 2020 Special Edition, as well as internationally acclaimed artistic films like Kaili Blues and Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains.

Over the past two years, the "Making Waves - Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema" section successfully brought over a dozen outstanding Hong Kong films and their cast & crew teams to meet audiences in Beijing. This year, it continued the charm of Hong Kong cinema by collaborating with the Hong Kong International Film Festival for the third time, showcasing four new remarkable films and two rarely seen classics. In addition, five exchange events with cast & crew were organized.

　　

　　

　　Exchange with cast & crew at the "Making Waves - Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema" section

While rooted in our local context, the BJIFF also has its sights set on the international stage.

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Brazil. For this reason, a special invitation to Brazil was extended to serve as the Guest of Honor of the BJIFF this year. Collaborating closely with the Embassy of Brazil in China, a series of amazing events & activities were hosted. Excitingly, the Beijing Film Panorama presented the Brazil Film Week, screening four exceptional Brazilian films, including the latest creation Pictures of Ghosts directed by renowned director Kleber Mendonça Filho, offering a treat for the movie goers.

　　

　　Opening ceremony of the Brazil Film Week

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. Throughout these 60 years, film has consistently served as a vital medium and bridge for cultural exchange between the two nations. As part of the Beijing Film Panorama for the 14th BJIFF, a dedicated section titled "She Is France" was carefully curated. This section revolved around the theme of time and featured the most representative French actresses since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. One of the masterpieces of each of these actresses was presented, bringing forth the remarkable luminance of French women.

　　

　　

　　XR experience

Apart from the screenings, we cordially invited over 80 filmmakers from home and abroad to engage in more than 50 post-screening interactive activities. This group of participants included internationally renowned directors like Yonfan and Emir Kusturica, as well as a host of up-and-coming filmmakers who represent the new era of cinema.

　　

　　Post-screening interactive activities

Swipe left and right to view more post-screening interactive activities. Curator Sha Dan believes that "the primary objective of a film festival is to drive the film industry and creativity. As the epicenter of China's film industry, the BJIFF should provide comprehensive support to the industry". Also according to him, when selecting films for the Beijing Film Panorama, the priority should be given to the latest and cutting-edge international works, as well as the restoration of classic films using the latest technology.

The filmmakers participating in the post-screening activities were deeply moved by the audience in Beijing. On his second visit to the BJIFF, director Yonfan not only presented his latest restored film in 4K Peony Pavilion to the BJIFF audience but also personally crafted two posters as souvenirs for each attendee. Notably, he autographed posters for every audience member during the first activity and prepared 400 signed editions before the subsequent activity. He openly admitted that witnessing so many fans attending the Beijing premiere screening of the 4K restoration of Peony Pavilion brought him more joy than receiving awards overseas.

　　

　　

　　Exchange with the cast & crew of Peony Pavilion

Producer Maurílio Martins graced the exchange activity with the film Mars One, which previously competed for the Oscars on behalf of Brazil. In addition to bestowing each audience member taking questions with an exquisite personally signed ticket holder, he inscribed a message on it for the viewers: É Preciso sempre sonhar, which means everyone has the right to dream.

　　

　　Message from Maurílio Martins

Since the 6th BJIFF, the Beijing Film Panorama section has initiated the Promoter of Chinese Films program. This year, the festival invited renowned actress Guo Keyu to serve as the promoter of Chinese films, joining efforts to promote Chinese films and attract more attention and audience for outstanding Chinese arthouse films. Additionally, Guo participated in the filming of a pre-screening short video that advocates movie watching in a civilized manner, collaborating with us to create a better viewing environment.

　　

　　Exchange with the cast & crew of Like Winds, Like Weeds

Beyond the screenings, the BJIFF this year adheres to its fan-friendly principle. Ahead of the screenings, as customary, we compiled information about each cinema, including details on hall conditions, nearby transportation, food maps, and other essential information, providing audiences with a comprehensive guide to facilitate their cinema experience, and forming initial time and spatial concepts for scheduling and ticket purchases.

Among the participating cinemas this year, we welcomed the return and addition of several prominent venues, including the Jackie Chan Cinema (Wukesong), which features three screening halls filled with cinematic delights. Other additions included the RIJDOJ Cinema IMAX, boasting a magnificent IMAX theater with 505 seats and a Dolby Atmos theater with 400 seats. In terms of theater configurations, we received tremendous support from numerous cinemas. For instance, the flagship theater at CINITY, namely Hall 1 of the Museum of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as Hall 4 equipped with CINITY LED, graciously provided their support. Regarding IMAX theaters, the lineup encompassed the China National Film Museum with its first-generation IMAX laser theater, as well as Emperor Cinemas and Universal CityWalk Cinema, both housing second-generation IMAX laser technology. Also, the recently renovated and newly completed Jackie Chan Cinema (Wukesong) and Palace Cinema, both equipped with Dolby technology, were featured on the list of participating theaters.

Meanwhile, we were actively attentive to the voices of movie fans and provided feedback in response. At the end of each social media post introducing the Beijing Film Panorama, a "comments from movie fans" section was included to engage with the audience, while continuous benefits were also offered. Not only were over 300 tickets for popular screenings given away, but special ticket holders were also provided to audience members participating in post-screening interactions at each activity. In addition, for selected activities, lucky attendees had the opportunity to win a series of home furnishing products offered by the official exclusive home furnishing brand A.R.T., including the "Qingzhu-A.R.T. Custom Fragrance Gift Set", as well as the A.R.T. whole-home collection, which won the 2023 Pinnacle Awards.

　　the scene of lucky draw

Movie watching wouldn't be complete without taking some memorable snapshots, and the BJIFF Beijing Film Panorama this year incorporated specially crafted thematic stamps related to the selected films. Many film enthusiasts eagerly shared their photo collections, showcasing all the unique stamp designs across various social media platforms.

　　Scene of the place where movie fans captured their moments

The annual film festival, like a magical spectacle, envelops the entire city in the radiance of the silver screen. As the Beijing Film Panorama drew to a close, we would like to invite all the participants to participate in a voting process to choose their three most beloved cinemas.

We eagerly anticipate our reunion next spring.