At the press conference held in Beijing on Feb. 12, the organizing committee introduced the overall scheme and preparations of the annual film festival, which will be held from April 15 - 22 this year.
The Beijing International Film Festival 2018 is comprised of seven major events: Competition Section "Tiantan Award", Opening Ceremony, Beijing Film Panorama, Theme Forum, Film Market, Film Carnival, Closing & Awards Ceremony, as well as more than 300 relevant events such as "Forward Future", Documentary Section, Online Film Section, Film Concert, Film Salon and New Film Release.
The Tiantan Award organizers have searched and collected outstanding films released after January 1, 2017 from across the world - receiving 579 entries from 70 countries and regions on six continents, including 480 overseas films and 99 domestic films. These films differ in theme, genre and style.
No more than 17 films will be shortlisted for the award. A jury consisting of seven distinguished international filmmakers will select the winners of 10 "Tiantan Awards" and present these awards at the Closing Ceremony.
Wong directed his debut film-"Tears Go By" in 1988 and his second "Days of Being Wild" in 1990. The latter earned him the 10th Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director and the 28th Golden Horse Award for Best Director. His "Ashes of Time" (1994) is an innovative swordsmen film and a classic. "Happy Together" (1997) earned the Best Director Award at Festival de Cannes 1997, making him the first Chinese director to win this award. "The Grandmaster" (2013) won the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Director and Best Film. In 2016, "In the Mood for Love" (2000) achieved second place on the BBC's list of the 100 greatest films of the 21st century, after "Mulholland Drive."
Another highlight is the annual "Beijing Film Panorama" which will screen outstanding, classic and rarely seen films in Beijing. This section is scheduled to take place in 32 film institutions and institutions of higher education in Beijing.
Through direct invitation and self-registration, the organizer has received nearly 400 domestic and foreign entries, and film selection is under way. During the screening fest, many creators of key films will be invited to Beijing for pre- & post-screening exchange events.
The festival will continue its traditional sections and the organizers also briefed reporters on the details:
The Theme Forum includes four theme sub-forums: Sino-Foreign Film Co-production Forum to be held on April 16 and will analyze successful cases of international co-productions, and probe into the market positioning of co-productions, cooperation and other issues; International Film Group Summit to be held on April 17 will focus on the hot topics of the Chinese film distribution market and look into the current situation of the global film industry; International Digital Cinema Technology Forum to be held on April 18 will explore the integrated development of technologies and films; Summit on the Beauty of Films to be held on April 21 will probe into the law, atheistic character, atheistic value and social function of film creation, as well as the aesthetic relations between viewers and film art.
The Film Market will, based on the development of China's film industry, continue to provide an exchange and trading platform for Chinese and foreign films, and transfer more outstanding foreign films to Chinese viewers. 105 standard booths (including oddly-shaped booths), 12 special booths and 4 united booths have been planned. To date, 90 enterprises and institutions have signed up for Film Market online. Of them, 79 registered standard booths and 11 registered special booths. 186 persons of 87 film institutions and 134 persons of 57 buyers signed up for Film Market online. 225 projects have been collected for Project Pitches and 8 events and activities have been fixed.
The Film Carnival will be held at the State Production Base of China Film Group from April 14 to May 1. This year, the carnival will be upgraded to 29 experience and demonstration activities in 16 sectors and six areas: Film Time Square, Promenade of Dream, Dream Space, Fulfillment of Dream, Golden Time, Characteristic Cruise and AR Film Show. The colorfully themed events will stimulate viewers' enthusiasm, enhance viewers' understanding of film culture, attract the broadest participants and promote films most effectively.
