Closing ceremony and Tiantan Award for BJIFF held in Beijing

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01:29

The closing ceremony of the eighth annual Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) lifted its curtain on Sunday at the Yanqi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center, gathering a star-studded lineup on the red carpet.

The film's top awards were handed out during the closing ceremony.

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The 8th Beijing International Film Festival, which lasted eight days has served as an important platform for exchanges between the Chinese and foreign film industry, the Beijing International Film Festival not only presents a wonderful film extravaganza for all sectors of the community and the Chinese and foreign filmgoers, it's a reflection of the new vitality of Chinese cinema.

Shu Qi at the closing ceremony /CGTN Photo

Georgian film director and screenwriter Mariam Khatchvani won the Tiantan Award for Best Director for "Dede," while Best Feature Film went to "Scary Mother."

Meanwhile, British actor Joe Cole won the Best Actor award for "Eye on Juliet."

Georgian actress Nata Murvanidze took the Best Actress award.

Lin Zhiling at the closing ceremony /CGTN Photo

This year's Beijing International Film Festival attracted the active participation of outstanding Chinese-speaking filmmakers from Malaysia, Singapore, the United States and France. A total of 722 projects have been collected, a record in the number of declarations, with impressively increased international influence.

The Tiantan Awards are the most prestigious awards at the festival, drawing 659 entries from 71 countries and regions this year. Fifteen films were in the running for the Tiantan Award.

During the eight-day festival, more than 300 events in seven large sections were held. 15,000 guests from more than 50 countries and regions spent more than a week on the development of film and promoted cultural exchanges between films. The BIFF continues to support the development of Chinese films and has become a benchmark for the Chinese film industry.

Tong Liya at the closing ceremony /CGTN Photo

In 2017, 798 feature films, 32 animation films, 68 science and education films, 44 documentaries, and 28 special films were produced in the Chinese mainland, totaling 970 films.

The total annual box office in the Chinese mainland reached 55.9 billion yuan last year, an increase of 13.45 percent year on year. The domestic films’ overseas box office and sales revenue reached 4.253 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11.19 percent.

Huang Yi at the closing ceremony /CGTN Photo‍

In the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, many Chinese companies have contracted joint ventures with countries such as France, Spain and Ukraine at the BJIFF. Around 79 companies from home and abroad confirmed 38 key projects amounting to 26.0825 billion yuan (about 4.1467 billion US dollars), an approximately 49 percent increase from last year.

The most beloved Beijing Film Panorama attracted fans from all over the country. The attendance rate of exhibitors in the Beijing Exhibition Unit reached 71.33% this year, reflecting the huge demand for art films and the diversification of Chinese film consumption.