Chinese movies hits big screens in Brazil as Film Festival opens in Rio

The 2024 China Film Festival in Brazil opened in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, with audiences treated to a selection of Chinese cinematic releases and new film-making cooperation agreements being signed.

The festival, co-hosted by the China Film Administration, the Chinese Embassy in Brazil, and the Consulate General of China in Rio de Janeiro, and organized by the China Film Archive, is supported by Brazil's Ministry of Culture.

A total of nine recently released Chinese films including the gritty crime thriller "Endless Journey", comedy-drama "YOLO", and action film "Ride On" starring Jackie Chan will be screened during the festival.

Mao Yu, executive deputy director general of the China Film Administration, delivered an address at the opening ceremony, noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Brazil.

He highlighted Brazil's role as the guest country at the Beijing International Film Festival back in April, where four outstanding Brazilian films were showcased to Chinese audiences during a Brazilian Film Week, offering a glimpse of Brazil's vibrant culture.

The crime film "Endless Journey" was screened following the opening ceremony. It tells the tale of a disbanded police team, who, after being imprisoned for an accidental death during an interrogation, reunite years later under their former leader to relentlessly pursue the remaining suspect in an unsolved murder case.

Director Dai Mo and lead actor Zhang Yi present to engage with the audience in a special Q and A session after the screening, and say they are amazed to receive such a warm reception.

"I never imagined that a film I performed in would be screened so far away in Latin America. We're thrilled to see how Brazilian audiences respond," said Zhang.

"Film is a fast bridge between cultures. We hope that through these screenings, Brazilians will gain a deeper understanding of China," said Dai.

The opening ceremony also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on film cooperation between the China Film Administration, China Film Archive, and Brazil's Ministry of Culture, aimed at broadening opportunities for filmmakers from both countries.

In recent years, China and Brazil have strengthened their film collaboration, with the two governments signing a co-production agreement in 2017 and a MoU on cooperation signed between the Beijing International Film Festival and the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival this April.

Chinese movies hits big screens in Brazil as Film Festival opens in Rio

The South Sudanese government has ramped up efforts to prevent the spread of cholera following the deaths of at least 60 people since the outbreak in late October.

Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services Michael Makuei Lueth said that 60 deaths have been reported so far, along with 6,000 cases recorded nationwide.

Makuei told journalists in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, that efforts are underway to procure more vaccines after the first batch, sufficient to treat 150,000 people, was dispatched to northern Renk County in Upper Nile State.

"Efforts are now underway to rescue the situation. The Ministry of Health has asked for vaccines. The quantity received so far is very small and they have sent it to Renk so that the people who are there are rescued. Efforts are underway to get more vaccines for the other areas," he said.

The first cholera case was reported on Oct. 28 at the Renk transit center for refugees and returnees fleeing conflict in neighboring Sudan.

Makuei said that most of the cholera cases have been reported among refugees in Renk County, Rubkona County in Unity State, and Aweil town in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, as well as recently in Juba.

Minister of Health Yolanda Awel Deng recently announced that an additional one million vaccine doses are needed to target vulnerable populations across the country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), refugees and returnees are the most affected by the outbreak, particularly children under the age of five and the elderly.

The WHO said that contributing factors include limited access to clean water, poor sanitation, open defecation, and overcrowding in transit centers and camps.

South Sudan requires 32 million U.S. dollars to sustain the first three months of the emergency response to the cholera outbreak, the WHO reported.

The funds will be used to strengthen current operations, deploy response teams to newly identified hotspots, maintain essential health services, and procure and distribute additional emergency supplies.

Death toll from cholera outbreak in South Sudan hits 60