On 4 November 2024, the China Film Festival opened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event was hosted by the China Film Administration, the Chinese Embassy in Brazil and the Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro. It was organized by the China Film Archive (CFA), and co-organized by the Ibrachina.
Maoyu, Executive Deputy Director of the China Film Administration, Tian Min, Chinese Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Sun Xianghui, Director of the China Film Archive, Joelma Gonzaga, Audiovisual Secretary of Brazil’s Ministry of Culture, Thomas Luo, Director of the Ibrachina, as well as nearly 500 attendees, including actor Zhang Yi, director Dai Mo and producer Huang Jue of the opening film, Endless Journey, were present at the opening ceremony and watched the film. Following the screening, the Brazilian audience had lively discussions with the the film’s creators.
In his opening speech, Maoyu highlighted the deepening of film cooperation between China and Brazil. As founding BRICS countries, China and Brazil have hosted several BRICS Film Festivals, presenting co-directed films like Where Has the Time Gone, Half the Sky, and Neighbors. In 2018, the Brazilian film Nise: The Heart of Madness was shown in 400 theaters across China and was warmly received by Chinese audiences. He emphasized that China’s film market is open and inclusive, benefiting filmmakers worldwide, and encouraged mutual cooperation to introduce each other's films into their markets, reaching more audiences.
Tian Min remarked that this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil, with a wide array of film exchanges taking place. Ahead of the Rio G20 Summit, the China Film Administration is hosting this film festival, selecting nine excellent Chinese films from the past two years to showcase Chinese history, culture, and customs to Brazilian audiences. It is hope that China and Brazil will strengthen cultural exchange and mutual learning through film, creating more popular films for both countries.
Joelma Gonzaga reflected on recent film exchanges between China and Brazil, notably mentioning Brazil’s role as the Guest Country at this year’s Beijing International Film Festival, which brought Brazilian films to Chinese audiences. She expressed the hope that, leveraging the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the two countries will build upon their signed MoU to strengthen interaction and cooperation in the audiovisual industry, allowing more excellent films to enter each other's markets.
At the opening ceremony, the China Film Administration and the China Film Archive each signed an important memorandum of understanding with Brazil’s Ministry of Culture. These documents outline plans to enhance exchanges, discuss industry issues, create opportunities for cooperation, implement joint projects, and promote cultural exchange and mutual learning in the film sector.
The festival, which ran from November 4 to November 8, showcased nine outstanding Chinese films, including Endless Journey, Love Never Ends, Pegasus 2, Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, YOLO, One and Only, Successor, Ride On, and Ping Pong: The Triumph.
(Translated by Luo Desai)