On September 24, the 8th Pingyao International Film Festival opened in the ancient city of Pingyao, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. Chen Kaige, Xie Fei, Miguel · Gomez, Yu Liwei, Wei Shujun, Liu Jiangjiang and many other film industry professionals gathered at Pingyao Film Palace; Ouyang Jianghe, Zhu Wen and other guests from the literary world were also invited to appear.
At the opening ceremony, singer Wei Wei sang the theme song "Daughter Song" and the English song "All there is" directed by Chen Kaige's classic movie "Yellow Earth"; Zhang Zimo, a singer from Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, brought a performance of "Time Will Wait for People Here"; The Ansai waist drum team in northern Shaanxi brought a waist drum performance of "Loess · Loess Love"; The choir of North University of China brought the chorus "I Love You China".
In addition, Jia Zhangke, the founder of the film festival, and representatives of the shortlisted directors at home and abroad of this Pingyao Film Festival jointly brought the song "Don't Worry Be Happy". At the end of the performance, director Jia Zhangke expressed his expectations through lyrics: "Chinese movies, Don't worry, be happy!"
The 8th Pingyao International Film Festival will be held from September 24 to September 30, 2024. With the theme of "EARTH", this year's film festival will screen films from 22 countries and regions, including China, France, Portugal, Brazil, Uruguay, Italy, Mexico, Japan, Argentina, Colombia, Denmark and United States.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the film "Yellow Earth" directed by Chen Kaige, and this year's film exhibition focuses on "land", the common theme of all mankind, and sets the theme as "this soil". At the opening ceremony, director Jia Zhangke took the stage to interpret the theme of this year's film exhibition: "At the moment of technological change, looking back at the past, we will gain the strength to move forward." ”
At the opening ceremony, the film festival awarded director Chen Kaige the honor of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's East-West Exchange Contribution Honor". Hong Kong film critic and curator Li Zhuotao, film critic, translator, filmmaker and curator Tony · Wren, who has witnessed Chen Kaige's "Yellow Earth" go international, and Jia Zhangke, a director who is deeply influenced by "Yellow Earth", took the stage to introduce the audience to their impression of director Chen Kaige. Wang Xueqi, chairman of China Film Group and actor of "Yellow Earth", as the guest of honor, awarded the honor to director Chen Kaige.
Chen Kaige recalled the situation when filming "Yellow Earth" 40 years ago: ""Yellow Earth" inadvertently collided head-on with the upcoming huge changes, conveying the people's desire for change. Our people, our country, are hungry for the message of change, and it is received by the audience, but also by film critics and filmmakers at home and abroad, so this is one of the reasons why this play has received a lot of honors. He also said, "To receive such an honor today, I would like to thank the Pingyao International Film Festival once again, and thank you for still remembering this film." ”
On the opening night, the film "Nu River" had its world premiere in Pingyao as the opening film. The program planning team led by Lin Xudong, artistic director of the Pingyao International Film Festival, took the stage to introduce the shortlisted films of this film exhibition; Rong Zishan, a young actor and promoter of the retrospective of the film exhibition, shared with the audience his feelings as the promoter of the retrospective.
Cai Shangjun, chairman of the final jury of Pingyao Venture Capital, Duan Yihong, independent jury representative of Momo Qingyun Script Award, Li Fei, honorary jury chairman of Tongye, Cheng Ma, youth jury chairman, Xu Lei, representative of the jury of "Fei Mu Honorary · Best Short Film", Miguel ·Gomez, representative of Fei Mu's honorary jury, and Li Zhuotao, representative of the honorary jury of "Roberto · Rossellini", spoke on behalf of their respective juries.
Miguel · Gomez and Li Zhuotao said that they will work hard in the next four days and live up to their trust. Duan Yihong shared his expectations: "I look forward to discovering film projects with imagination, creativity, vitality and motivation."