Building Cultural Highland to Create Oriental Film & Television Capital --BJIFF Boosts Construction of National Cultural Center

　　The 7th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) is to raise its curtain on April 16, 2017. Under the leadership of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People's Republic of China, Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC and People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, the 7th BJIFF, featuring a wide variety of excellent works and efficient operations, has invited numerous film industry peers all over the world to share the screen and shape the future, and jointly build a world-based platform gathering industry elements and a landmark of film culture in Beijing, and  witness the great influence of Chinese film culture.

　　Started in 2011 and hosted by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People's Republic of China and People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, BJIFF has become a world-renowned event in the film industry. Adhering to the purpose of “Share the Screen, Shape the Future”, BJIFF aims to promote the exchanges for domestic and overseas films, drive the development of China’s film industry, fully execute the service concept of public sharing of culture, highlight Beijing’s cultural deposits as cultural center of China and strive to become an international, professional, high-end and market-oriented brand with “International standard, Chinese characteristics, Beijing style”.

　　BJIFF has drawn widespread attention from the society. Statistics show that the 6th BJIFF was attended by over 300 film institutions and 15,000 guests from over 50 countries and regions and held over 1,000 displays of 500 outstanding works in the whole city; in the Film Market, 49 major projects was signed with an amount totaling RMB16.331 billion, hitting historic high; the number of viewers reached 220,000 and total box office exceeded RMB10 million with an year-on-year growth of 25%; over 1 million persons of the capital participated in the festival-related activities.

　　As a global event, BJIFF was widely recognized by the famous filmmakers around the world. Hou Guangming, Party Secretary of Beijing Film Academy, said: “It is the right time for the birth of Beijing International Film Festival in the history of Chinese film as it is believed to become one of the most influential film festivals of the world in the near future”. Giuseppe Tornatore, well-known Italian film director, said: “As a representative of China’s film industry, Beijing International Film Festival found its position at the world arena.  I like its unlimited possibilities during its growth, which helps it surpass many old brands”. Christoph Waltz, the Best Actor of Cannes Film Festival, said at BJIFF: “I didn’t except such a great event since it shows all the best of international film festivals”. Tony Leung, Hong Kong film star, said: “Beijing International Film Festival is a good platform for the cultivation of Chinese film talents”. Jiang Jun, the screenwriter of My Beloved Bodyguard, said: “The market pitches of Beijing International Film Festival is of great significance for young directors as they can realize their film dreams without the support of social connections” .

　　Upon six years of unremitting efforts, BJIFF witnessed a robust growth of reputation and world influence in satisfying international standards and achieved significant results in forming Chinese characteristics and Beijing style. It is gradually becoming a grand event characterized by internationalization, Professionalization, innovation & high-end and marketization.. BJIFF ushered over 6 million visitors for the past six years and is playing a more and more important role in building Beijing into the national political cultural, international exchange and technical innovation center.

　　Since the beginning of 2010 when the State Council promulgated Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Prosperous Development of Film Industry, the total box office of Chinese films sustained rapid growth.  In 2016, 461 films were shown in Mainland China, with a total box office of more than RMB45.5 billion, of which RMB3.028 billion was derived from Beijing, ranking the top in China; an annual average time of 3.3 persons for viewing was registered in Beijing, ranking No.1 in China. In addition, an average of 21,000 persons shares a screen, surpassing all the cities in China. In 2015, 294 films were produced in Beijing, accounting for 42% of the total in China; among the top 20 Chinese films in terms of box office, 13 films were produced in Beijing, accounting for 65%; of the 5 Chinese films with box office of over RMB100 million, Beijing held 4. Beijing boasts 80% of film resources in China, world-leading film bases, and major consumers of China. With constantly rapid growth, Beijing definitely takes the lead in the film industry of China.

　　Film, as the product of Industrial Revolution, was born in late 19th century. As for China, film was unveiled in 1905, keeping up with the development of the world.  In the autumn of 1905, Ren Qingtai made China’s first silent film at Fengtai Photo Studio in Beijing--Dingjun Mountain starred by Tan Xinpei, Peking Opera actor, which indicated the birth of Chinese film at the cradle--Beijing.

　　Film, as a form of mass entertainment, is an important part of cultural & creative industries since it plays a major role in the public cultural consumption. Prosperity of film industry contributes to the development of  cultural & creative industries. In 2011, the 6th Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the CPC proposed to give play to the demonstration role of national cultural center, which provided a distinct opportunity for the development of cultural & creative industries of Beijing. Amid the increasing demand of public cultural consumption and technological experience, rich cultural resources,  talents and technical forces will help further enhance the competitiveness of Beijing.

　　As a time-honored cultural city, Beijing is advantageous for the development of cultural & creative industries thanks to its cultural deposits in its long history and numerous talents. Culture, as the lifeblood of a nation and the soul of urban development, gives the people a sense of belonging. To strengthen the construction of the national cultural center is a major strategy of Beijing in acceleration of building a world-leading livable city and achieving development and prosperity of socialist culture. In recent years, the municipal CPC committee and government as well as various districts & counties of Beijing formulated massive policies on fiscal taxation, investment & financing, intellectual property and talent cultivation, providing strong support and guidance for the healthy, rapid and constant development of cultural & creative industries of Beijing. As the national cultural center, Beijing features complete elements for the film industry development. The professional colleges like the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy and Communication University of China have become the cradle for the cultivation of industry talents; various famous writers provide the aspiration of original scripts; the enterprises like Huayi Brothers and Starlight International Media under rapid development have stepped into the global market to build outstanding Chinese brands and become the hard core of the film industry; the young people among the 20 million permanent residents have become the target group.

　　Centering on the construction of national cultural center, BJIFF will continue to increase the investment in launching excellent works, culture and brands and improving exchanges, innovation and development. Based on the mutual benefits of the excellent works and cultural communication, BJIFF strives to promote Sino-foreign film exchanges, enhance the production and innovation of film contents and drive the rapid development of the film industry of China and even the world, thus achieving new breakthrough and development in “excellent works and efficient operations”.

　　As the national center of politics, culture, international exchange and technical innovation, Beijing perfectly matches the BJIFF in various aspects. For now, the added value of cultural & creative industries of Beijing account for over 13% of the regional economic aggregate, following the financial industry. As an important part of the cultural & creative industries, the film industry of Beijing tops China in terms of viewing time per capita, quantity of produced films and excellent films, which makes Beijing the oriental film & television capital.

　　BJIFF is to seize the opportunity of Beijing relieving core functions with further focus on the position of “four centers” and dedicated to building a new cultural landmark in Beijing for overall enhancement of brand influence, thereby providing a strong support for Beijing in the construction of national cultural center.

　　Despite the rapid development of film industry, China needs further improvement compared with the mature overseas markets due to its immature industrial system. Since a great market needs a suitable film festival and film exchange market, BJIFF is endowed with relevant duties and development potentials.

　　In the future, BJIFF will, in line with the purpose of “Share the Screen, Shape the Future” and the orientation of internationalization, professionalization, innovation & high-end and marketization, further explore potentials and exert advantages based on its position, respect arts and follow market rules, cultivate talents for the public, strive to build the exchange platform for domestic and overseas films, the beacon for film market, incubator for new filmmakers and works and the new landmark for urban culture, and vigorously promote the healthy, rapid and sustainable development of the film industry in China for better serving the construction of national cultural center.