China Film night shines at Berlin Int'l Film Festival

China

China Film night shines at Berlin Int'l Film Festival

2025-02-19 17:39 Last Updated At：19:37

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

Milano-Cortina Paralympics reveal opening, closing themes as Games draw near

The organizing committee of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has unveiled the titles, creative visions, and first talents of the opening and closing ceremonies, as Thursday marked 50 days before the event officially gets underway.

Scheduled from March 6 to 15 across multiple Italian cities, the Games will bring together 665 athletes from 50 countries and regions to compete for 79 gold medals across six sporting disciplines.

The opening ceremony, titled "Life in Motion," will be staged at the historic Arena di Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presenting a tribute to change and transformation that seeks to redefine disability through a new harmony between people and the environment.

"I paid close attention to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which I consider one of the three or four most beautiful in the history of Olympic ceremonies. This time at the ancient Arena di Verona, we will place greater emphasis on showcasing the human element," the ceremonies' artistic director Alfredo Accatino told a Chinese reporter at the event.

The closing ceremony, themed "Italian Souvenir," will be held on March 15 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, guiding athletes, volunteers, and fans through a journey that captures the emotions and memories of the Games after days of competition and achievement.

Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee's Chief Brand and Communications Officer, believes that Italy will deliver "the best Paralympic Games" following the benchmark set by the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022.

"I think what China did in Beijing has really set the benchmark for all future teams competing in the Paralympic Winter Games in terms of performance. That's why I think Milano-Cortina will be the best Paralympic Games we've ever seen for sports," he said.