The 1st International Forum on Chinese Film began in D Hall at Macau University of Science and Technology at 10 a.m. on September 20, 2018. The Forum was organized by the Macau Academy of Cinematic Arts of Macau University of Science and Technology, and sponsored by the Macau Foundation. Attending guests gave speeches and engaged in discussions on the theme of “New Landscape for Chinese Films and New Opportunities for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”.
Officiating guests at the Opening Ceremony (from left: Director Yin Hong, Chairman Manuel Pires, Deputy Chief Ieong Chi Kin, President Liu Liang, Director Sou Chio Fai, Deputy Director Cen Jiayi, Acting Chairman Zhong Yi, Chairman Leong Heng Teng, and Dean Zhang Zhiqing)
The Forum was officiated by Mr. Sou Chio Fai, Director of the Macao Tertiary Education Services Office, Ms. Cen Jiayi, representative of Deputy Director of Department of Education and Youth Affairs, Central Liaison Office of the P.R.C. in Macao S.A.R., Chair Prof. Liu Liang, President of M.U.S.T., Ms. Zhong Yi, Acting Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Macau Foundation, Mr. Ieong Chi Kin, Deputy Chief of the Cultural Bureau of the Macao S.A.R., Mr. Leong Heng Teng, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Macau Fund of Cultural Industries, Mr. Manuel Pires, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. (TDM), Prof. Zhang Zhiqing, Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Arts, M.U.S.T., and Prof. Yin Hong, Director of Macau Academy of Cinematic Arts, M.U.S.T., and attended by an audience of more than 400 people, including professionals of the film industry and M.U.S.T. teachers and students.
President Liu Liang addressed the Opening Ceremony, pointing out that the Faculty of Humanities and Arts of M.U.S.T. has achieved fast development under the guidance and direction of the University. The Faculty currently harbours degree programs in four major areas, communication, design, fine arts, and film studies. The University established the Macau Academy of Cinematic Arts in 2015, assembled an elite faculty team made up of experts and professionals from the film industry, and started to offer programs such as Doctor in Film Management, Master in Film Management, and Master in Film Production, which aim to cultivate high-quality professional talents in film arts for Macao. Over the years, the Chinese film market has been growing immensely and the industrialization of films has improved continuously. The thriving development of the Chinese film market has led to its acceleration in making it into the world market, and distribution of labors in the film industry has become more refined and professionalized. It is believed that the International Forum on Chinese Film will provide a perfect platform for professionals to engage in academic exchanges and contribute ideas and wisdom and make new contributions for the fast development and growth of the film industry in the Greater Bay Area.
Group photo of guests attending the Forum
The Forum consisted of two sessions held in the morning and in the afternoon, the first one dedicated mainly to the Opening Ceremony and keynote speeches, the second to the summits. The keynote speeches were chaired by Prof. Yin Hong. The Forum had the honor to invite five keynote speakers to give speeches, including Mr. Huang Changning, Deputy General Manager of the Zhu Jiang Film Group, Mr. Feng Wei, Chief Executive of the Greater China and Vice Executive of Asia-Pacific of the Motion Picture Association of America, Mr. Geng Ranhao, Senior Vice Executive of iQIYI, Mr. Ran Ping, Chinese A-list state level playwright, and Ms. Cheryl-Lee Fast, Chief Executive of the Canadian Fast Company, who gave speeches and engaged in discussions with the attending guests on the “Development of Film Industry in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, “Chinese Films in the Context of Globalization”, “Chinese Film Industry in the Context of Internet”, “Innovation of Narratives in Chinese Films”, and “Attitude of Canadian Film Producers toward Chinese Narratives and Creative Culture”.
Two summit sessions were held in the afternoon. One session was entitled “New Opportunities for Film Development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, which was chaired by Prof. Zhang Zhiqing; the main guests include Mr. Cao Guimin, a film collector, Mr. Chen Changbin, Senior Curator, Producer, Executive Producer, and President of Guangdong Film Industry Association, Mr. Chen Zheng, Chief Executive of Global Digital Creations Holdings Limited, Ms. Wang Yan, Director of programs and production in China, Fox Networks Group, and Mr. Ho Wai, Honorary President of the Film Critics China, Hong Kong.
The Forum attracted an audience of 400 people, including professions from the film industry and M.U.S.T. teachers and students
The other summit addressed the theme of “Film Education and Cultivation of Professional Talents”. It was chaired by Prof. Hu Zhifeng, Dean of the Art and Media School, Beijing Normal University, and the main guests include Mr. Kong Chi Keung, Executive Producer, Producer and Executive Director of Edko Films Ltd., Prof. Randy Finch from the Department of Film Studies of Taiwan University of Art, Ms. Liu Hailing, Director of Center for Creative Writing, Guandong University of Foreign Studies, and two Macao directors, Ms. Tracy Hsu and Harriet Wong Teng Teng.
The Forum has attracted participation by people from different industries, including professionals and scholars of all over the world, to exchange ideas and have discussions on the theme of “New Landscape for Chinese Films and New Opportunities for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, and join forces to contribute constructive ideas for the development of the Chinese films. The participating guests also agree that as a treasure house that is home to both Chinese culture and western cultures, Macao and its film culture has a great potential in furthering the development of Chinese films. By way of communication, the Chinese film professionals are able to identify the stance and future directions in the hope of eventually elevating the recognitions of Chinese films by the international film community.
