The 12th Silk Road International Film Festival has brought together filmmakers from multiple countries to discuss international cooperation in the film industry and explore ways to create a better industry ecosystem in the context of globalization.
The event, which opened on Monday in Fuzhou, capital city of east China's coastal Fujian Province, runs from Monday to Friday under the theme "Silk Road Connects the World, Film Festival Illuminates Fuzhou."
The Exchange Session for Belt and Road International Film Cooperation and Development held on Tuesday was one of the highlights of the festival.
Attending filmmakers from both China and abroad unanimously agreed that the modernization of the film industry requires deepened cross-border collaboration across the entire chain, including creation, funding, talent cultivation and technology.
The industry's internationalization involves not only the cross-border circulation of film works, but also the in-depth integration of rules, standards and market systems, they said.
The filmmakers said that in the context of globalization, all parties should work together to build a collaborative and shared film industry ecosystem, creating film works that are both internationally competitive and culturally inclusive.
"I feel a story, it could be a love story, it could be a comedy, but something that can capture the essence of those two cultures would be a good start," said Nayla Al Khaja, the first female film director and producer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Since its inception, the Silk Road International Film Festival has attracted filmmakers from over 130 countries and regions. The Belt and Road Film Industry Collaboration Platform has facilitated agreements among 38 member countries, with the total amount of investment contracts for film projects exceeding 20 billion yuan (about 2.8 billion U.S. dollars).
During the exchange session on Tuesday, Nepal and Belarus signed to join the platform, increasing the platform's member states to 40.
The five-day festival features 12 main events including the opening ceremony, the Golden Silk Road Awards, screenings from guest countries and outdoor showings.
A 13-member jury of prominent Chinese and international filmmakers, chaired by director Chen Kaige, will select winners in 10 categories including best film and best director. This year's awards attracted more than 2,800 submissions from 125 countries and regions, of which 1,850 came from Belt and Road partner countries, setting a record high.
Silk Road film festival focuses on int'l film cooperation
