14th Beijing int'l film festival opens as filmmakers highlight cooperation

The 14th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) opened on Thursday, with filmmakers emphasizing the importance of deeper exchanges and cooperation within the industry to allow film-making to flourish.

Prior to the opening ceremony at the Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center on Thursday evening, many prominent movie stars and world-renowned filmmakers graced the red carpet and took questions from the assembled media.

Peter Chan Ho-sun, a decorated film director from Hong Kong, highlighted the importance of strengthening film-making exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland.

"I think there's always been very healthy exchanges from my generation, from before my generation, and to the younger generation, of how we work together with the mainland team and how [when] we first started working here where most of our department heads were from Hong Kong, and now most of my key crew members, even department heads, were from here and still are from here, which is a big change, which is a big difference," he said.

"The way we work, obviously, is on a much bigger canvas, because it's a big country and there are multiple stories to be told and I find that very rewarding as far as I'm concerned that I'm able to work in such a big canvas," added Chen.

This year's BJIFF runs through to April 26, with Serbian director Emir Kusturica chairing the international jury for the coveted Tiantan Awards, according to organizers.

A total of 15 films will contend for prizes, selected from a record-breaking application pool of more than 1,500 films from 118 countries and regions around the world.

During the festival, over 240 domestic and international films depicting an array of diverse themes will be shown across more than 20 theaters in Beijing and its neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province.

Launched in 2011, the festival aims to boost exchanges between global industry players, with the event attracting increasing international attention over the years thanks to China's booming film market.

14th Beijing int'l film festival opens as filmmakers highlight cooperation

China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, set out for maiden sea trials on Wednesday morning.

The ship left Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard at around 8:00 local time. The sea trials will primarily test the reliability and stability of the aircraft carrier's propulsion and electrical systems.

Since its launch in June 2022, the Fujian has completed its mooring trials, outfitting work and equipment adjustments. It has met the technical requirements for sea trials.

This is China's first domestically-made carrier that uses catapults. With a full-load displacement of more than 80,000 tonnes, the carrier is equipped with electromagnetic catapults and arresting devices.

Different from China's previous two aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong, the Fujian will see a longer sea-trail duration, as it is equipped with more new technologies, such as the electromagnetic aircraft launch system and the electric system. These advancements require thorough verification of their reliability, said Song Xiaojun, a Chinese expert on military affairs.

Apart from technical tests on the carrier's performance including its reliability, environmental adaptability, stability and safety, the sea trails also assess its habitability for sailors by taking into account human factors, said Song.

Once commissioned by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the Fujian is expected to play a crucial role in the future development of China's naval capabilities, according to Song.

With three carriers in operation--one undergoing maintenance, one allocated for routine training, and one dedicated to combat training, the Chinese aircraft carrier fleet will significantly enhance its presence in key waters, said Song.

Song also said that the carrier's electromagnetic aircraft launch system will allow a more frequent dispatch of carrier-based aircraft, making it more suitable for missions in strategically important areas. Moreover, the incorporation of these advanced technologies lays a solid foundation for the development of larger aircraft carriers, said Song.

China's aircraft carrier Fujian sets out for maiden sea trials