Beijing film festival launches “ticket stub for discounts” campaign to boost film culture, consumption

During the ongoing 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), moviegoers can not only enjoy a rich lineup of movie screenings, but also unlock exclusive discounts and offers at a dozen of business districts across Beijing with their ticket stubs.

Launched during the film festival, the “China Film Consumption Year” event is a joint effort by the National Film Administration, China Media Group, and other organizations.

The initiative aims to boost both film culture and consumer spending, creating a vibrant crossover between the silver screen and city life during the festival, which runs from April 18 to 26.

Throughout the festival, a variety of themed markets, sub-forums, and other activities are being held across cinemas and cultural and creative parks in the city.

The 798 Art District alone is hosting over 20 outdoor exhibitions and related activities during the festival. Visitors can enjoy discounts from more than 100 participating merchants in the area, including those in catering, exhibitions, and the cultural and creative industries.

"There are many excellent films screened during the Beijing International Film Festival. I had just stepped out of a cinema when I found that this cafe offers a special discount for people with a movie ticket stub, so I came over for a cup of coffee," said Hou Liaohong, a moviegoer.

Promotional signs have been rolled out across participating business districts and cinemas, with many extending the discounts to any movie ticket from April.

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.

Beijing film festival launches “ticket stub for discounts” campaign to boost film culture, consumption

Beijing film festival launches “ticket stub for discounts” campaign to boost film culture, consumption

The death toll from a landfill collapse in the central Philippine city of Cebu has risen to eight by Monday morning as search and rescue operations continued for another 28 missing people.

The landfill collapse occurred on Thursday as dozens of sanitation workers were working at the site. The disaster has already caused injuries of 18 people.

Family members of the missing people said the rescue progress is slow, and the hope for the survival of their loved ones is fading.

"For me, maybe I’ve accepted the worst result already because the garbage is poisonous and yesterday, it was raining very hard the whole day. Maybe they’ve been poisoned. For us, alive or dead, I hope we can get their bodies out of the garbage rubble," said Maria Kareen Rubin, a family member of a victim.

Families have set up camps on high ground near the landfill, awaiting news of their relatives. Some people at the site said cries for help could still be heard hours after the landfill collapsed, but these voices gradually faded away.

Bienvenido Ranido, who lost his wife in the disaster, said he can't believe all that happened.

"After they gave my wife oxygen, my kids and I were expecting that she would be saved that night because she was still alive. But the night came and till the next morning, they didn't manage to save her," he said.

Death toll in central Philippine landfill collapse rises to eight