2018 SIFF Highlight: The Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance formed

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The Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance was formed in Shanghai on Saturday with a memorandum of cooperation issued by 31 film festival organizations from 29 countries that participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which marks the opening of the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).

Representatives of the film festivals, including the Cairo International Film Festival, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, the Warsaw International Film Festival, Moscow International Film Festival, and more signed the memorandum to promote co-development and co-production in the film industry and to boost cooperation of the film festivals and film agencies among these countries.

Shen Haixiong, president of the China Media Group (CMG) attended the signing ceremony and delivered the speech, noting that the mechanism of film festival cooperation along the Belt and Road will be upgraded to promote cultural exchanges and expand the circle of friends.

Shen Haixiong (4th R), president of the China Media Group, attends the signing ceremony. /VCG Photo‍

The published alliance manifesto claims that the film festival plans to enhance information and film sharing, as well as exchanging of filmmakers and industry experts, and to start more joint projects with the coalition.

“Belt and Road” has been a key phrase of the SIFF since the Belt and Road Unit, which aims to increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges, was first launched in 2015. In 2017, the section further expanded itself to include 189 films from 32 countries either as entries or for screening.

This year, the first Belt and Road Week will be held in the Pudong District of Shanghai during the festival, with 154 films from 49 countries along the Belt and Road presented. Round-table discussions will also be held.

(Cover photo: The Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance signing ceremony is held in Shanghai, China, June 16, 2018. /VCG Photo)