China Film night shines at Berlin Int'l Film Festival

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The 75th Berlin International Film Festival hosted a special evening dedicated to Chinese cinema on Monday, drawing over 150 international filmmakers, industry leaders, and cultural representatives for a dynamic exchange of ideas and creativity.

At the "China Film Night -- 2025 Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) Reception," Cao Yin, deputy managing director and deputy general manager of Shanghai International Film and TV Festivals discussed the robust growth of the Chinese film market.

Cao noted that the enthusiasm of Chinese audiences for high-quality films is not only fueling the industry's expansion in the country, but also creating fresh opportunities for outstanding international productions to enter China.

She encouraged global filmmakers to join SIFF, promising a unique opportunity to tap into the vibrant Chinese film market and connect with the country's dedicated cinema enthusiasts.

Jerzy Skolimowski, who was jury president for the 25th SIFF in 2023, described Shanghai as a city "brimming with magic." He praised SIFF's film selection and highlighted the enduring friendships he has developed in Shanghai.

"[I send] my personal best wishes for the Shanghai International Film Festival, because it is my favorite film event in the world. I had a fantastic time over there two years ago, because of the wonderful place, wonderful people, very good selection of the films. Altogether, it was so well organized by such nice people that I can honestly recommend Shanghai as the place to be," he said.

Marco Mueller, jury member for the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards of SIFF in 2021, commended the event for being inclusive and serving as a platform for both Chinese and global international moviemakers to showcase their culture.

"The Shanghai International Film Festival is really fascinating to many people. It shows them rich Chinese culture and also a feel of foreign culture," said Marco Mueller, jury member for the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards of SIFF in 2021.

Founded in 1993, SIFF has evolved into a prestigious international event, demonstrating Shanghai's growing role in global film and television collaboration thanks to China's booming film market. In 2024, the festival featured over 1,600 screenings of more than 460 films from 105 countries and regions. 

The 27th Shanghai International Film Festival will take place from June 13 to 22, 2025.

China Film night shines at Berlin Int'l Film Festival

Major German car makers have reported net profit declines in the first quarter of 2025 as they face increasing operation challenges amid U.S. tariff-created uncertainties.

​Volkswagen Group said its sales revenue in the first three months of 2025 grew by nearly three percent year on year, but the earnings after tax slumped about 41 percent from the previous year.

Challenges such as uncertainties in the global economy, increasing trade restrictions, and commodity volatility are placing pressure on the company's profitability, Volkswagen Group said in its financial results released on Wednesday.

Mercedes-Benz Group also reported a net profit reduction in the first quarter of 2025.

In its financial report released on Wednesday, the company said its first-quarter revenue amounted to 33.2 billion euros, down seven percent year on year, and its net profit stood at 1.73 billion euros, marking a 43-percent decline compared to the previous year.

Mercedes-Benz Group said that the U.S. tariff policy causes considerable uncertainty for the world economy, dims global growth prospects, and leads to weak consumer sentiment.

If the currently-announced U.S. tariffs are implemented and remain in place until the end of the year, they will have a negative impact on its business, Mercedes-Benz Group said.

On the same day, the German Association of the Automotive Industry called on the United States to roll back additional tariffs on automobiles and auto parts for vehicles and to resolve trade disputes through dialogue to create a sustainable environment for long-term development.

Major German carmakers report profit decline in Q1 2025