Highlights

Film and Silk Road Culture Development Forum held

Time:2016-09-23 14:58:17 Font Setting: Large Medium Small

"Film and Silk Road Culture Development Forum" held in Xi'an

    On September 22, the "Film and Silk Road Culture Development Forum" during the 3rd Silk Road International Film Festival (SRIFF) was held at Xi'an International Studies University (XISU). With focus on subjects such as "Silk Road Films-Cooperation and Inclusivity of Diversified Cultures" and "The Belt and Road-New Opportunity for Silk Road Films", screenwriters, directors and cultural scholars from European and Asian film circles probed into how contemporary films carry out exchanges and cooperation to achieve win-win in the new context of the prosperity and development of the new Silk Road.

    Qian Yuangang, Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 3rd SRIFF and Director-General of the Shaanxi Administration of Press and Publication, Radio, Film, and Television; Qiang Xiaoan, Director of the Xi'an Municipal Development and Reform Commission and Director of the Xi'an Municipal Office of Silk Road Economic Belt Construction; Chen Jili, Secretary-General of the 3rd Silk Road International Film Festival (Xi'an) Executive Committee and Chairman of the Qujiang New District Administration Committee; Zhang Junzhe, President of XISU and other leaders delivered addresses. Renowned screenwriter Liu Zhenyun and renowned cultural scholar Xiao Yunru delivered keynote speeches. Guests like Edward Bowman (UK), Agnese Fontana (Italy), Ashhal muhammad•Baiti (Iran), Park Young-hoon, Xiao Yunru, Gao Jianqun, Li Zhen, Zhang Ali, Zhuzi, Hu Jintao, Nanhua, Liang Yingjian, Zheng Qianmin, Duan Peng, Li Shengrong, Yan Jianbin and Gao Yandong attended the forum and answered the questions from the audience present.

    Before the speeches of the guests, the Signing Ceremony of "All-round Strategic Partnership between the Venice International Film Festival and the Silk Road International Film Festival" was held. Li Tiejun, Deputy Secretary-General of the 3rd Silk Road International Film Festival (Xi'an) Executive Committee and Agnese Fontana, official representative of the Venice International Film Festival signed the agreement on behalf of respective sides and had a photo. "Venice International Film Festival Day" is an important unit of the Venice International Film Festival as well as an important international exchange brand. Under the agreement, the two sides will promote mutually, and strengthen cooperation and exchanges. The conclusion of this agreement marks a significant milestone in the globalization of SRIFF.

    Liu Zhenyun: the Silk Road International Film Festival Carries Forward the Spirit of “Western Film”

    Appeared at the Festival with the film One Sentence Worth Thousand, famous scriptwriter Liu Zhenyun said that, work adaption should always follow the principle of film and TV creation, and consider some specific factors like the composition of the screen shots and character dialogues, which should be kept short and simple by us taking out those parts that are not suitable for film and TV making. Only in this way can filmmakers make scripts into films. Silk Road International Film Festival has done a good job integrating all kinds of sources and offering new challenges to literature creation from an opening, international and diverse perspective, which not only encourages the literature work adaption of various kinds, and, to some extent, carries forward the new spirit of “Western Film” artistic creation, making it more vital and meaningful.

    Xiao Yunru: Silk Road Cultural Exchanges Needs a Full View

    Xiao Yunru, famous cultural scholar and Silk Road Culture Ambassador, expressed that, “Western Film” used to be an excellent brand of Chinese film and once enjoyed its glory days; but has been “on the decline” in recent years for many reasons. However, he added that, the development of film and Silk Road Culture offers a blue moon to western film, which requires us to reconsider the western film with a full view and Silk Road Pattern. We should expand western film into Silk Road Film; this is a new opportunity. At last, Xiao said the most important opportunity is the idea – after our vision expanded from the west, the yellow land to the Silk Road, we should consider the Silk Road International Film Festival an international event rather than a regional one.

    Li Zhen: To promote culture first, the Silk Road International Film Festival should be the pioneer

    Famous professor Li Zhen, Chairman of the Shaanxi Literary and Art Critics Association, said that on the world-known Silk Road starting from Chang’an and ending in Rome, there have currently been no so-called developing countries, but developing countries. In this sense, the Road is a low land of economy. We, however, could make a careful field investigation and find that all the greatest cultures and civilization in the history of human civilization were born here, so the Silk Road is the main stem of human civilization. In other words, it is a low land of economy but a cultural highland. China’s basic idea is to give priority to culture first, if we hope to build the Silk Road Economic Belt on the so-called cultural highland.

    Zhu Zi: The Silk Road film should be the pioneer of the renewal of Chinese western films

    In his speech, Zhu Zi, a famous writer and screenwriter, said that the historical glory and current downfall of Chinese western films was obvious to all. But today, in the context of our national grand strategy “The Belt and Road”, we could leverage the Silk Road International Film Festival as a platform to make Shaanxi film raise the flag of Chinese western film again. In my view, this was highly likely to be a breakthrough of Shaanxi film, at least one of the directions it makes a breakthrough toward.

    Nan Hua: A new order for cultural communication should be established for the Silk Road film

    In his speech, Nan Hua, Dean of the School of Arts, Xi'an International Studies University, said that the Silk Road is a spatial concept that can be referred to. As for development, there is also the implication of the diversity of politics and economy, so the “Film in Development” might target at the countries along the Silk Road. But in fact, the voice may go beyond the scope of cooperation between regions along the Silk Road, and may need to establish a new order for cultural communication, enabling diverse voices in the world to respond to each other. Among the reasons, film has been a technique and art all the time, an art that aesthetics and economy, culture and politics, are linked to each.

    Young-hoon Park: China and Korea should enhance exchange and discussion.

    Young-hoon Park, a famous director of Korea, said there should be more in-depth exchanges and discussions as regards to the ways of jointly producing films between China and Korea and that the two countries should have more in-depth cooperation and communication.

    Edward Bowman: Silk Road stories are the best materials for movies.

    Edward Bowman believes that a real screenplay is about how people live and connect. This is what cultural diversity means. First, people must be clear of what is cultural diversity and what can be used to produce films. Many people find that they must invite the best actors and actresses to join in to make the film a great success. As a matter of fact, Portman believes the screenplay is even more important. There are many stories in various languages on the Silk Road, which are worth pondering.

    Zhang Ali: Silk Road Film Festival Made a Great Success

    Zhang Ali, chairman of Shaanxi Film Association, said in reply to the last question raised on the spot that the 3rd Silk Road International Film Festival has achieved remarkable results. Xi’an has ambient film cultural atmosphere. Xi’an is lively these days which has not been so for long. When was it lively last time? In the Tang Dynasty. It was so dynamic in the Tang Dynasty. Many foreign friends gathered in Xi’an, then capital of the Tang. I guess they were also discussing academic issues, too.

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