The production team of the Chinese-Russian spy thriller "Red Silk" has expressed optimism about the prospects of cooperation in the film industry among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries at the opening ceremony for the SCO Film and Television Week.
The SCO Film and Television Week kicked off in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, last Friday with a high-profile opening ceremony, which was attended by diplomats, filmmakers, and international stars, highlighting the growing role of the city as a hub for multinational cinematic collaboration.
Behind the glittering event, the SCO's first-ever multinational film week, lies a broader effort to strengthen real-world cultural ties among SCO countries through shared film projects and production partnerships.
Since 2020, more than 40 co-produced films have been initiated among SCO member states, reflecting a strategic emphasis on cultural exchange and soft power.
The opening film for the SCO Film and Television Week is the action-spy film "Red Silk", co-produced by China and Russia, which is also a key project within the framework of the China-Russia Years of Culture.
The film, directed by Russian director Andrey Volgin, is a collaborative effort between Chinese and Russian film teams, with nearly 1,700 cast and crew members involved in the production.
The film tells the story of messengers from China and the Soviet Union joining forces as they overcome dangers and obstacles to deliver confidential intelligence.
The lead actress, Svetlana Chuykina, shared her feelings working alongside her Chinese co-workers during the shooting.
"I would like to express my gratitude to my Chinese colleagues. It was nice working with them. Although we speak different languages, we share a common emotional language and appreciate the beauty of language and cinematic culture. The professionalism of the Chinese artists is impressive, and I'm glad we can quickly find a common language," she said.
The film marks the first project of collaboration between China and Russia in the adventure and detective genre. It was released in Russia early this year and achieved the highest box office revenue in its category.
"China-Russia film co-production demonstrates the promising future of collaboration between the two countries' film industries. Our film 'Red Silk' has already achieved success in screening in Russia. The production process successfully united the Chinese and Russian teams into a cohesive whole. We look forward to more collaboration opportunities and potential in the film industries of both countries in the future," said Vadim Byrkin, Russian producer of the film.
"I believe that the activities related to the SCO provide us with numerous opportunities. I hope everyone can organize more exhibitions, shows, and exchanges, so as to allow more enterprises in the Chinese mainland to conduct various film and television projects with other SCO member countries. We also welcome more teams and industry professionals from other SCO countries to come to China and explore new space for cooperation," said Yang Yang, Chinese producer of the film.
The film is set to premiere nationwide in China on Sept. 6.
Creation team of "Red Silk" optimistic about future cooperation in film industry among SCO members
