The 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) kicked off on Friday with organizers hoping to leverage the event to boost film consumption trends.
At the heart of the festival is the Tiantan Award, the official competition section of BJIFF. The award honors recent outstanding films and champions diversity in global cinema. This year, 15 full-length films are short-listed to compete in 10 categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, and Best Cinematography.
The 15 shortlisted movies consist of 3 Chinese films and 12 from abroad.
This year's jury committee for the awards is led by acclaimed Chinese director and actor Jiang Wen. He is joined by Chinese American director and actress Joan Chen, British director David Yates, Chinese actress Ni Ni, Finnish director Teemu Nikki, Swiss director-actor Vincent Perez and Hong Kong art director Tim Yip.
Additionally, the opening ceremony welcomed the launch of a campaign to further boost film consumption in the the country, building on a wildly successful year that saw blockbuster hits like Ne Zha 2 driving audiences to cinemas.
The campaign, dubbed the "Chinese Film Consumption Year", aims to take advantage of the BJIFF as Beijing creates film-related attractions that integrate culture, commerce, tourism and sports.
"Actively responding to the strategy of the 'Chinese Film Consumption Year', this year's Beijing International Film Festival innovatively launches the 'Beijing Film and Life Festival' to explore new areas and further tap into potential movie industry consumption," said Yu Junsheng, secretary-general of 15th Beijing International Film Festival's organizing committee.
Running from April 18 to 26, the 15th BJIFF presents over 300 films across 33 cinemas and one immersive venue in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. The "Beijing Screening" section offers approximately 900 screenings, showcasing global masterpieces, restored classics and the works of emerging Chinese filmmakers.
Red carpet rolls out for 15th Beijing International Film Festival
Red carpet rolls out for 15th Beijing International Film Festival
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that BRICS countries need to strengthen unity and cooperation to act as the most reliable force in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, made the statement at the 15th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.
He stated that once-in-a-century changes are unfolding across the world at a faster pace, with new challenges, changes, and problems constantly emerging.
Yet regardless of how the international landscape changes, peace and stability remain a common pursuit of the international community, development and prosperity are always a common expectation of all countries, and seeking strength through unity among the Global South is always an unstoppable historical trend, he said.
Wang said that under the new global circumstances, more and more countries are willing to listen to the voice of BRICS and hope to join the BRICS family. The development of BRICS represents the growth of peace forces, the strengthening of development forces, and the empowerment of the forces of justice in the world.
BRICS countries must stand at the forefront of the times, strengthen unity and cooperation, demonstrate the assumption of responsibility, and promote the significant role of greater BRICS cooperation, to act as the most reliable force in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, he noted.
Wang stated that a transactional approach in international politics and weaponizing global trade will only aggravate the trust crisis among countries and jeopardize global security.
Standing at the crossroads of history, BRICS countries must provide a clear answer: should they allow unilateralism to spread unchecked, or steadfastly champion for multilateralism, Wang said.
Concession leads nowhere and unity is where the hope lies, he added.
Wang said that BRICS countries should hold high the banner of multilateralism, take the lead in safeguarding the international system with the United Nations at its core and the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and promote development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction.
Other parties at the meeting agreed that BRICS countries should build consensus and make joint efforts to oppose all forms of bullying, interventionism and tariff abuse, adhere to multilateralism, defend the common interests of the Global South, and work together to build a multipolar world of peace, security, fairness and justice.
BRICS countries should become reliable force in safeguarding developing countries' rights: FM
