Film festival in Beijing introduces home talent to Europe

The 6th Beijing First Film Festival kicked off last weekend. The film festival is the only one in the country dedicated exclusively to young filmmakers. And this year's event also sees judges from major European film festivals to provide an international platform for these young filmmakers in China.

The eleven films to be screened at this year's festival cover a wide range of themes.

Apart from the usual love and family themes, some directors have chosen more social themes, turning their cameras to the elderly in retirement home and the children of migrant workers.

In addition, the festival has invited judges from the Cannes Film Festival and Festival Premiers Plans D'Angers to the screenings followed by a series of interactive activities.

Together the judges will select between 5 and 10 films to be presented in Europe, to compete with the directors' European contemporaries.

Claude-Eric Poiroux, Director of Europa Cinemas, said, "We pay greatest attention to the young talents's creations, the cinematic world they've created and their filming techniques. The themes they chose come after all that. Last year we had six Chinese directors at the Festival Premiers Plan D'Angers, and two Chinese films screened at the festival both received great feedback."

Wen Wu, President of 6th Beijing First Film Festival, said, "We can learn a lot through communicating with filmmakers from other countries. To see what their focus is in their first film and how they present their theme is a great reference for us to perfect our work."

Apart from screening films from home talent, this year's event also plans to introduce classic films from the West to universities in Beijing.

Ever since its birth in 2008, the Beijing First Film Festival has established regular interaction with 26 universities in Beijing, including the Peking University and Tsinghua.