Room for improvement as event searches for a better balance

What role should a film festival play for a city? Should it serve the public or the industry?

As Beijing wrapped up its first-ever international film festival at the end of April, a discussion between Chinese film insiders and their German counterparts shed light on the city's cinematic future.

Held by the Goethe Institute of China, the dialogue brought together famous Chinese directors such as Jia Zhangke and Wang Quan'an, local film critics and the organizers of the Berlin International Film Festival, or Berlinale, at a three-day event from April 27 at BC MOMA, Beijing's first arthouse cinema.

Regarded as one of the three largest film festivals in the world, Berlinale has arguably been the German capital's largest cultural event since it was founded in 1951. As many as 400 films are shown every year, including a comprehensive array of European premieres.

Jia went to Berlin with his first film, Xiao Wu, in 1998. Although he has been a popular guest at many international events, Berlinale still holds a special place in his heart, and what impressed him most was the close relationship between the festival and the public.

Different from other international film festivals such as Cannes or Venice, which are mostly attended by industry professionals, Berlinale is considered the world's largest publicly attended film festival, with 300,000 tickets sold and total audience numbers of about 430,000.

"When I went to other cities to screen my movies, I really missed my audience in Berlin," Jia said.

The Beijing International Film Festival (April 23 to 28), invited an ambitiously long list of global heavyweights, including Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky and Rob Mintoff, who directed Disney Hit The Lion King. Jackie Chan and Zhang Ziyi, both image ambassadors, were also among the star-studded guests at the National Center for the Performing Arts for the opening ceremony on April 23.

However, many speakers at the discussion expressed disappointment at not having the opportunity to see a film, which they felt is what a film festival is all about. The festival screened 160 films from 42 countries but the public had problems finding out about screening and ticketing details.

Some critics thought that the festival was too strongly directed at film industry insiders and in future needs to be more of a public event.

Wang also recalled his relationship with the Berlin festival. His film Tuan Yuan was selected as the opening film of the Berlinale's 60th anniversary last year. He said he was surprised and honored that the organizers chose his film rather than an eye-catching, big-budget blockbuster.

Wang was also impressed by the way his film was screened. It was not held in some grand theater in the city center but at an arthouse cinema in a neighborhood.

"It was very impressive, and I suddenly saw the connection between my movie and the venue. It helped to make the movie simple and build closeness with its audience," Wang said.

As Beijing and the whole country witness a boom in commercial films, there should also be room for the development of art films and more venues that screen them, according to Wang.

The German insiders said that, although the Beijing festival had its flaws, as every new festival does, Beijing has the potential to become a city with a film festival that makes its people proud.

"Beijing has so many active and talented artists and such a huge population, that I am confident it will become an international festival enjoyed by all," said Wieland Speck, director of Berlinale's Panorama section, which showcases the latest in arthouse cinema.

"We are looking forward to Beijing finding its own unique style for its next film festival in three years," he added.

China Daily