According to the official website of Art &Experience Institute, the opening ceremony of the “2nd Chinese Cinema at a Glance” was held last night, October 16, 2021 in presence of Iranian and international cultural officials at the Iranian Artists’ House.
Li Fu Hua (Chief of Mission and Deputy Head of the Embassy of China in Iran), Jafar Sanei, Moghaddam (Managing Director of Art and Experience Institute), Majid Rajab Memar (Managing Director of the Iranian Artists Forum), Alireza Tabesh (Managing Director of Farabi Cinema Foundation), Mohammad Hossein Ghasemi( Producer), Jo Xie Hao (Cultural Attache of the Chinese Embassy in Iran), Alireza Delkhosh (Director General of Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Sadeghi (Representative of the Iran-China Friendship Association), Vishwanat Aponso (Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Iran), Barbara Grosse (Acting Director of Avionics and Cultural Attache of the Austrian Embassy in Iran), Monfard (Representing the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance), Majid Reza Hariri (President of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce), Adibi (Deputy Ambassador of the Iranian Embassy in China), Sami Rantamaki (First Secretary of the Embassy of Finland in Iran), Faezeh Azizkhani (Director) and so … were amongst the guests.
Sepehr Soleiman, the emcee of this event opened the ceremony by welcoming guests and inviting Li Fu Hua, Chief of Mission and Deputy Head of the Embassy of China in Iran to deliver her speech.
Exchange of artistic experiences and cinematic views in the "Chinese Cinema at a Glance”
She began her speech stating: On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Iran, I warmly welcome the esteemed guests taking part in the 2nd "Chinese Cinema at a Glance” event. I also express my gratitude to Mr. Jafar Sanei Moghadam , the Managing Director of Art and Experience Institute and his team. This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Iran relations. Both China and Iran are ancient civilizations with brilliant cultures and histories, and the cultural relations of these two great civilizations have promoted the development and prosperity of human civilization.
She continued: From the beginning of the establishment of China-Iran relations up until today, the cooperation between the two countries in all fields has continued uninterruptedly and has led to many achievements. We would like to take this opportunity on the 50th anniversary of the China-Iran relations and promote mutual understanding between the two nations, by encouraging these relations in the atmosphere of "two-way acceleration by two ancient civilizations" to jointly promote the values of all humanity, including peace, development, justice, fairness, democracy and freedom to help build a more beautiful world.
Li Fu Hua emphasized: Cinema is the international language of civilized exchanges. Contemporary Iranian cinema with its unique style of images is truly unique. In the face of the onslaught of issues such as urbanization, market orientation and commercialization, Iranian cinema emphasizes the return to the roots and the original and with a simple style, new and fresh methods, in a warm and calm atmosphere full of wise images, with topics such as friendship, tolerance, love and mutual tolerance touches our souls and brings thought and enlightenment, and for this reason, it has created a deep interest and fascination in cinema lovers all over the world.
She added: "On the other hand, Chinese cinema, like Iranian cinema, has its roots in ancient civilization and is immersed in the spirit of Eastern humanitarianism. This cinema also has the largest film market in the world, the largest audience, the highest number of screenings and the highest production capacity. Chinese and Iranian cinemas have a huge potential for expansion. In recent years, Chinese and Iranian cinematic collaborations have experienced close exchanges and have maintained this space.We have already witnessed the signing of the "Memorandum of Understanding of Cinema Exchanges and Cooperation" of the National Cinema Administration of China with the Cinema and Audiovisual Affairs Organization of Iran, which provides a good basis for strengthening cinematic cooperation between the two countries in an equal atmosphere based on mutual interests. Moreover, it has provided a suitable basis for the closeness of the souls of the two nations to each other.
Chief of Mission and Deputy of the Chinese Embassy stated: On the other hand, in recent years, the art academies and art research centers of the two countries have also started close cooperation in the fields of cinematic creations, comparative research, training courses and so forth. In this context, famous Iranian directors, such as Majid Majidi and Narges Abyar, were recently invited to China to study the production of two joint films, which will undoubtedly open new doors in the field of cinematic cooperation between the two countries.
Li Fu Hua continued: With the aim to further strengthen cooperation and cinematic interactions between China and Iran and the realization of the results of former exchanges and public benefit, during the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations, the Chinese Embassy in Iran together with the Iranian Institute of Art and Experience have organised the 2nd "Chinese Cinema at a Glance” on their agenda and have screened seven of the most influential and artistic Chinese films screened in recent years.In this edition of the event, compared to the first one, we will see a significant increase in the number of participating films, the duration of the program, and the scope of release. In addition, the "Chinese-Iranian Film Workshop" program has been added to this year's collection, which, of course, will lead to more opportunities for future collaborations.
At the end of her speech, she said: Once again, I would like to thank all the esteemed people who have participated in the opening ceremony of the “2nd Chinese Cinema at a Glance” in person or online, and I invite you to watch the cinema programs of the coming week and Learn more about Chinese cinema, culture, history and current human relations. Finally, I would like to thank the the Iranian Artist's House for their great help in organizing the opening ceremony. Thank you for your attention.
The dimensions of cultural interaction between Iranian and Chinese filmmakers have expanded in recent years
Jafar Sanei Moghaddam, Managing Director of Art and Experience Institute, was another speaker at the ceremony who stated: It is an honour for us to open the 12th Film Week and the 2nd "Chinese Cinema at a Glance”on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People's Republic of China.
On behalf of the Art and Experience Institute family, I would like to welcome all guests, especially Ms. Fu Hua, Chief of Mission and Deputy of the Chinese Embassy in Iran, and I hope that this week, the continuation of cultural and cinematic interactions between these two great ancient civilizations will increase in order to develop the cinema industry, increase investment in film production and screening, and finally introduce the culture and achievements between the two great and strategic Asian countries, relying on the capacities and commonalities of the culture and art of the ancient continent.
He continued: Iran and China are both ancient and great civilizations of Asia and the world. And in different historical periods, cultural interaction and exchange has taken place between the two countries. However, despite the historical interactions and friendly relations that have prevailed, the need for a more comprehensive understanding of Chinese cinema and filmmakers can be an effective step in identifying and introducing Chinese artistic and experimental cinema to Iranians.
The managing director of Art and Experience Institute added: The scope and dimensions of cultural interaction between filmmakers of the two countries have expanded in recent years, with the presence of Iranian filmmakers and the praise of Iranian films in various Chinese film festivals (Beijing, Shanghai, Silk Road). Furthermore, well-known Iranian director Majid Majidi and Asghar Farhadi were both jury and committee members of film festivals such as Beijing International Film Festival. Reza Mirkarimi's film CASTLE OF DREAM has also been awarded at the Shanghai Film Festival. Recently, two prominant Iranian directors; Majid Majidi and Narges Abyar have been invited to China to make a joint film production with China.
Sanei Moghaddam added: I hope that hosting the second edition of China Film Week in Iran will provide the ground for effective exchanges and collaborations in other fields of creation and cinematic research and will strengthen cultural ties and mutual recognition of the people of the two countries. In today's world, cinema is the common language of dialogue, friendship and empathetic understanding of different nations, which has made image a mediator for public insight. Certainly, the strategic position of the two great countries, Iran and China, can be manifested in the world of cinema.
At the end of his speech, he said: Undoubtedly, hosting a film week in Iran and China and showing the works of filmmakers of the two countries to each other's people can improve the field of cinema industry. While appreciating the work of all Iranian and Chinese colleagues who made this possible, I hope our audience will enjoy watching 7 films from Chinese cinema and we will see more cinematic relations and exchanges between the two great countries of Iran and China.
Chinese cinema, like Iranian cinema, has been associated with important political events
Majid Rajabi Memar, Managing Director of the Iranian Artists Forum, was the final speaker of the ceremony, who stated: We appreciate your presence in the Iranian Artists’ House. Video camera arrived in China 4 years before it arrived in Iran, that is, in 1896. It arrived in Iran in 1900 and private ceremonies were recorded.
He continued: Chinese cinema, like Iranian cinema, has been associated with important political events that have affected cinema. The fourth generation of Chinese filmmakers began their careers after the 1949 revolution. Then came the Cultural Revolution, and decades later the next generations and the students who pushed the cinema toward dynamism.
Rajabi Memar concluded: Zhang Yimou, director of Shadow, is one of the fifth generation Chinese filmmakers. A three-time nominee for Best Foreign Language Film at the Award Academy, he has won awards at almost every major film festival. He also directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In this program, we review the films of the fifth generation Chinese filmmakers who were able to transform Chinese cinema and are somehow representatives of Chinese art cinema. A generation that introduces Chinese cinema to international festivals and shuns popular cinema.
The 2nd "Chinese Cinema at a Glance” will be held physically and online with the screening of 7 works from Chinese cinema from October 16 to 22, 2021.
In the 2nd "Chinese Cinema at a Glance”, the Iranian Artists’ House will host all interesteed participants every day in one single session. In addition, two online screenings will be carried out via Hashour platform every night.
The first edition of “Chinese Cinema at a Glance” was held simultaneously in three cities of Iran in three days from August 15 to 17 2018, and this is the second time that the Art and Experience Institute is implementing this joint project with the Chinese Embassy.