Cannes readies Chinese talent forum

Eight emerging Chinese film directors and their feature film projects have been invited to attend the Cannes Marche for a series of exclusive pitching sessions.

The second edition of the New Chinese Film Talents Fund Forum is an initiative developed as a partnership between Chinese distributor Champs Lis International and Cannes’ Marché du Film.

It aims to encourage and support a group of Chinese filmmakers in their understanding of the global film marketplace and of their approach of the international co-production business.

The eight selected projects went through a short-listing process before being officially selected by a committee of international film professionals including Sophie Bourdon, David Dusa, Wang Fenglin, Isabelle Glachant, Jia Qi, Winnie Lau, Michelle Lee Stefano Tealdi and Lorna Tee.

Two of the projects have been selected by the Beijing Film Market after being part in April of the Beijing Project Pitches event.

Projects

• Alive! (Li Yang)
• Bloody Far East (Du Liang)
• Dinosaur Pico (Liu Kexin)
• Haze (Li Haodong)
• Mountain Cry (Yang Zi)
• Mountain Fish (Cai Xuegang)
• Premarital Check Up (Guo Tingbo)
• The 77 Days (Zhao Yi).

On May 18, and starting at 11:30am in the Room Palais J, these Chinese filmmakers will have the opportunity to present their projects to international producers, sales agents, film funds and other film independents or institutions.

Following their respective pitching sessions, one on one meetings will be set up for individual and personalized introductions to the international professionals.

Sophie Bourdon and Stefano Tealdi, who will moderate the event, were also spearheading a four-day pitching coaching workshop in Beijing with all filmmakers pre-selected for The New Chinese Film Talents Fund Forum.

Marché du Film executive director Jérôme Paillard said: “As the Chinese box-office has impressively grown in recent years, what I also see through those results is the development of a thriving creative environment that a younger and more novice community of filmmakers have created for themselves. With Cannes being the home to the leading film market in the world, and understanding the great advantages of co-productions, we’re very excited to be able to partner with the New Chinese Film Talents Fund Forum to facilitate the opportunity offered to their participants and promote their promising work in the best way we can.”

In addition, the Marché du Film Opening Night Reception, which will be held on May 15, will be dedicated to China, celebrating the country’s increasing presence on the global film market. Expected to attend the opening party is special guest of honour, Oscar-winning director Jean-Jacques Annaud, currently in post-production on Wolf Totem, an independent Franco-Chinese coproduction sold by Wild Bunch.

A press conference introducing all eight Chinese participants of the New Chinese Film Talents Fund Forum will be held on May 19 at 11am in the Salon Diane of the Majestic Hotel, during which a prize will be announced and awarded to the Best Project.