Tonight, representatives from the film industry at home and abroad, members of International Jury of the Golden Goblet Awards, crew members of the finalists and screening films will join the guests from all walks of life and the Shanghai audience to witness the opening of the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival. Qiang Li, Shanghai Municipal Party Secretary, attended the opening ceremony. Xiaohui Wang, Executive Deputy Director of Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the CPC & Director of the State Film Bureau, announced the opening of the Shanghai International Film Festival. Haixiong Shen, Deputy Director of Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the CPC & Director of China Media Group, and Yong Ying, Shanghai Municipal Party Deputy Secretary & the Mayor, delivered speeches.
In his speech, Haixiong Shen said that the Shanghai International Film Festival built its dreams with ups and downs, set up a stage for film screening and exchanges, and sowed the seeds for deepening film exchanges. The film festival adheres to the positioning of "keeping a foothold in Asia" and will absorb the essence of the times and present more glamorous Asian film achievements that transcend time and space to contribute to Shanghai\'s urban cultural brand. We will continue to expand "the Belt and Road" circle of friends, promote the interconnection and mutual reference between filmmakers and film cultures in Asian countries, deepen the understanding and appreciation of each other\'s culture, better display and spread the beauty of civilization, tamp and co-build the humanistic foundation of the Asian community of shared future and the human community of shared destiny.
Yong Ying said in his speech that the Shanghai International Film Festival was born for cultural exchanges, grew by industrial development and thrived by public participation. It has become one of the most influential film events in the Asia-Pacific region and one of the most iconic cultural cards of Shanghai. It is necessary to continue to promote exchanges and mutual reference between Chinese culture and foreign culture and make films an important link for people of all countries to enhance understanding and spiritual communication. It is necessary to continue to serve the innovation and development of the film industry and provide a powerful boost for building Shanghai a global film and television creation and production center city. It is necessary to continue to make the viewing service beneficial to the people, enrich the film exhibition activities, improve the viewing experience, and create a cultural feast shared by all.
This year\'s film festival focuses on the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the New China, and implements the main line of praising the new China and endeavor in the new era throughout the festival. During the China Film Industry Summit Forum of "Seventy Years of Ups and Downs Jointly Build a Strong Nation", the special exhibition unit of "Memories, and Time Classic" was provided to let the audience relive China’s extraordinary development and growth course in the past 70 years. With the constant increase of international influence and cultural communication capability, in this year\'s film festival, 3,964 films from 112 countries and regions around the world applied for screening. More than 500 Chinese and foreign films would be screened in 47 cinemas in 16 districts of Shanghai. The film festival will also strive to create a film achievement citizen sharing platform. A large number of films participating in the competition and screening will be released (not in the cinema) to citizens for free, and the domestic and overseas crew will also appear on stage to interact and make exchanges with the audience who love films.