Beijing film fest expects to set new records

The 4th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) is expected to set new records in terms of the sheer scale of exhibitors and contract signing projects, as well as activities and quality, organizers said on Monday.

"The number of participating exhibitors in this year's Beijing Film Market has reached 248, an increase of 20 percent; while the number of international exhibitors has increased to 125, exceeding the number of domestic exhibitors for the first time," said Zhao Zhiyong, executive deputy secretary general of the BJIFF organizing committee.

As for the contract signing projects, the contract amount makes for an important indicator of the film market vitality. The projects concentrate on film funding, film base construction and film investment programs, with the contract amount expected to exceed 10 billion, he said.

The press conference held at Beijing Hotel briefed attendants about the film festival and its newly increased activities. Themed "Share the Screen, Shape the Future," the 4th BJIFF adheres to an international, professional, innovative, high-end and market-oriented development ideology.

According to the organizing committee, various activities have been arranged. Apart from the seven themed activities held during the previous sessions, including the Tiantan Award Competition, Opening Ceremony, Beijing Film Panorama, Beijing Forum, Beijing Film Market, Film Carnival, Closing &Awards Ceremony, four new units have been added this year, which are New Focus, "Forward Future" International Screening Unit, Documentary and Micro Film Unit. A series of activities is set up for each of the 11 units. For example, Beijing Film Market includes six blocks and 25 activities, including Exhibition, Project Pitches, Industry Forum, Events &Activities, Contract Signing Ceremony and Market Screenings.

In the "Forward Future" International Screening Unit, 13 activities are on offer, including the Screening Opening Ceremony, Film Festival, Forum and Fan Meeting. In addition, the Beijing Film Panorama will host eight country-specific film festivals, including France, Germany, UK and Russia, as well as projecting the film works by the Jury chairman. More than 260 screening films will be projected some 600 times. It's expected that more than 800 Chinese and international film organizations and over 3000 guests will attend the 4th BJIFF. More than 110 activities will be held, attracting more than 1 million visitors.

John Woo, the famous Chinese director, is invited to act as chairman of the International Jury for the Tiantan Award. Other members of the International Jury are Andrés Vicente Gómez, one of the most respected producers in all of Europe; famous Irish director, scriptwriter and actor Jim Sheridan; famous Chinese director, scriptwriter and executive producer Lu Chuan; famous Italian actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta; famous French director, scriptwriter and producer Philippe Muyl; and famous Indian director and scriptwriter Rajkumar Hirani.