Chinese films are heading towards the international market greater openness and professionalism, attracting increasing overseas audiences through their unique aesthetics and cultural connotations, said international filmmakers at various events during the 78th Cannes Film Festival in France.
The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival opened on May 13 in the southern French resort town of Cannes. Chinese authorities and filmmakers have actively organized or taken part in events in Cannes.
Multiple dialogues between Chinese and foreign filmmakers were held on Tuesday, gathering film professionals from various countries.
An exchange event on successful experience in film distribution, organized by the China Film Foundation, focused on the two-way efforts made by Chinese and foreign films makers. The film professionals also explored the popularity of foreign language films in the Chinese market, as well the successful screening of Chinese blockbusters like "Ne Zha 2" and "Creation of The Gods" in overseas markets.
Senior French film distributor Boris Pugnet said the key to Chinese films gaining global recognition lies in their balance of artistry and entertainment.
"Chinese production has reached a very high level of production value, of quality from an artistic point of view, from an entertaining point of view, and so my plan is to be very attentive and to dig for more movies. We want to specialize in Chinese movies to distribute in Europe," said Pugnet.
French specialist in Chinese film Luisa Prudentino said that Chinese films present a real and poetic China through their unique aesthetics, and the cultural connotations carried by these films are being increasingly understood by international audiences.
"The strength of the Chinese cinema is that they take the tradition as the basis of the modernity, and this is really very, very clear in the Chinese cinema, and I think it's really the unique, unique characteristic, the most innovative characteristic of the Chinese films," said Prudentino.
At the Chinese film and global opportunities roundtable forum organized by the China Film Association, Chinese and foreign filmmakers shared their insights on topics such as the overseas performance of Chinese films and the application of artificial intelligence in the film and television industry.
The Chinese Film Night also took place on Tuesday night, in which Chinese actors expressed their hope to tell compelling Chinese stories through their works.
"We should create some truly outstanding works based on our Chinese stories, but expressed through contemporary methods. I think it’s quite meaningful that such works have the ability to transcend cultures, borders and languages," said Yu Shi, a Chinese actor.
Chinese films attract increasing overseas audiences through unique aesthetics, cultural connotations
Chinese films attract increasing overseas audiences through unique aesthetics, cultural connotations
The three astronauts of China's recently-returned Shenzhou-20 mission on Friday shared the experiences of their dramatic 204-day space mission, including detailing the emergency procedures which were implemented to bring them safely home after their return capsule was struck by space debris.
The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie -- met with the press in Beijing on Friday afternoon, marking their first public appearance since returning to Earth in November.
When detailing the emergency response mechanisms which were enacted prior to their scheduled return, the astronauts explained that upon discovering a triangular crack on the spacecraft's viewport window, they immediately took photos for documentation and transmitted them to the ground team, who swiftly activated an emergency plan to get the trio home safely.
Experienced mission commander Chen Dong explained how the crew had complete faith in their colleagues on the ground to find a solution to these unforeseen circumstances which led to their return being delayed.
"First, we must trust the ground team, who would anticipate everything and develop the safest return plan for us. Second, we must believe in ourselves; as well-trained astronauts, we have the ability to manage various unexpected failures. I believe that with the collaboration of astronauts and researchers on the ground, our space home will surely go farther, more steadily, and for a longer time," he said.
Following their extended stay in space as a result of the debris incident, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent a total 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest duration by a single group of Chinese astronauts.
During their mission, they completed multiple payload operations, conducted extensive scientific experiments, and carried out four extravehicular activities.
"Our crew worked together with the ground team in unity and coordination, completing four extravehicular activities, several payload entry and exit tasks, and a large number of scientific experiments. It was a fulfilling yet challenging mission. The path to exploring the heavens is long and arduous, but I firmly believe that China's space missions will succeed," said Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot who was making his first spaceflight during the mission.
"From the ground to space, from learning to application, I have deeply felt the solid progress of Chinese space endeavors and the quiet dedication of countless personnel behind the scenes. In the future, I will accomplish each mission with full commitment, living up to the trust of the motherland and the people," said fellow astronaut Wang Jie, who was also making his debut spaceflight.
After returning to Earth on Nov 14, the trio successfully completed their isolation recovery and rehabilitation and will now resume normal training following health assessments.
The crew's return, originally scheduled for Nov 5, was postponed due to safety concerns, with the astronauts later using the return capsule belonging to their successor crew of the Shenzhou-21 mission to get back to Earth. China later launched the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft which will serve the future return of the crew now aboard the Tiangong Space Station.
Shenzhou-20 astronauts share experiences after safely returning from debris incident
