This film festival, co-organized by the Organizing Committee of the China-EU Film Festival, the Communication University of China, and Nouvelles D’Europe, found the limelight of People’s Daily, people.com.cn, CGTN, Chinanews.com, Phenix, Nouvelles D’Europe, and China Today.
▲ The poster for this film festival
Located in Brussels, Belgium, home to the headquarters of the European Union, the Organizing Committee of the China-EU Film Festival solicits outstanding original video works from the youth in China and 27 EU countries for judging, presenting, and awarding. The award-winning works are exhibited in China and Europe for exchange and communication.
▲ This film festival proves a resounding success in Brussels and Paris.
Since its inception in 2015, the China-EU Film Festival has successfully held five editions in Belgium, screening dozens of Chinese films. These films encompass a wide range of genres, from historical epics to modern urban dramas, and from animated masterpieces to documentaries. The China-EU Film Festival not only presents representative Chinese film and television works and the development of the film and television industry to the European audience but also provides them with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese society and culture.
▲ Brochures of the film festival
The festival featured a Chinese film exhibition, a special “Meet China” section, and an exhibition and exchange of youth short films, showcasing a diverse array of films and audiovisual works, and even highlighting the power of cultural diversity and artistic innovation in Sino-European exchanges. Viewers from diverse cultural backgrounds were deeply touched by the stories in the films, feeling a strong connection through the screen. Each film screening, discussion, and exchange served as a testament to the mutual understanding and respect between China and Europe.
People flocked to the site to celebrate the opening ceremony
On October 11, the China-EU Film Festival kicked off at Cinéma Aventure, Brussels, Belgium, attracting flocks of cultural celebrities, movie stars, and film fans from across Europe, all eager to explore the charm of Chinese culture. Six representative films were carefully selected for presentation, including “Snow Leopard”, “Creation of the Gods Ⅰ: Kingdom of Storms”, “Borrowed Time”, “Into the Mortal World”, “Table for Six”, and “The Cord of Life”.
▲ The six representative films shown
These films cover a diverse range of topics, ranging from social development and change, man and nature, and family bonds, to traditional fairy tales. They provide European audiences with a glimpse into the diverse styles, unique charm, profound cultural legacies, and contemporary trends in China’s evolving society.
“Meet China” Special Section: Brussels & Paris Live Linkage
The “Meet China” Special Section, a highlight of the festival, was launched simultaneously in Brussels and Paris. It featured an array of well-chosen films showcasing China's natural landscape, historical culture, and modern urban style, offering European audiences a unique perspective to gain a deeper understanding of China.
▲ Post for the “Meet China” special section
Gao Wei, Cultural Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Belgium; Gong Yi, Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Brussels; Isabel St. Paul, Deputy Dean of Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Hu Fang, Deputy Director of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication at the Communication University of China; Zhao Zhengyi, Head of the Chinese Program, Department of Translation and Interpretation, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and several dozen students from the School of Languages, Communication, and Translation at Vrije Universiteit Brussel visited the screening venue.
▲ Gao Wei (first from the right), Gong Yi, and Hu Fang at the screening venue.
Meanwhile, five students from the Television School of the Communication University of China actively participated in the volunteer work at the event site. They included Chen Mohan, Wu Zhuoran, Wang Jiarong, Lai Chenxi from the 2023 Class of the Master’s Program in International Journalism and Communication, and Gao Han, a radio and television major from the 2023 Class. These five students are currently participating in a one-year government-sponsored overseas education project, the Innovative Talent International Cooperative Training Program, launched by the China Scholarship Council in Belgium. During the volunteer activities, they leveraged their professional knowledge and enthusiasm to actively guide the audience, assist with film screenings, organize cultural exchange discussions, and contribute significantly to promoting Sino-European cultural exchanges and enhancing the festival’s international influence, enabling European audiences to better appreciate the charm of Chinese cinema culture and further deepening mutual understanding and respect between Sino-European cultures.
After the volunteer work, the five students took a group photo with Gong Yi, Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Brussels, and Zhao Zhengyi, Head of the Chinese Program, Department of Translation and Interpretation, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Zhao Zhengyi is an alumnus of the Radio and Television Production major from the 1983 Class at the Communication University of China. His achievements and presence greatly inspired the students.
▲ Group photo of five volunteers and faculty members
China Expression—the Path to Openness, Digital Adventures of China Travel, and Living in China: Olivier Grandjean. These films not only serve as a window for European audiences to gain a deeper understanding of China but also actively facilitate cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between China and Europe. Following the screenings, a dialogue session featuring Antonio Nardone, a renowned Belgian art historian, painter, and museum curator; Stefan Pramon, Lecturer at the School of Languages, Communication and Translation and Director of the Institute of Translation Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel; and Zhao Xiaolin, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Office at the Department of Foreign Exchange and Cooperation of People's Daily, took place. They engaged in an in-depth discussion on the today and tomorrow of the development of modern China’s documentary film and provided new perspectives to facilitate the mutual understanding and collaboration between Chinese and European cultures.
▲ A group photo of the five volunteers, Stefan Pramon and other students
On October 13, local time, the “Meet China” Special Section of the 6th China-EU Film Festival was held at the ASSOCIATION DES AMIS DE NOUVELLES D’EUROPE. This event was co-organized by the Communication University of China and Nouvelles D'Europe.
▲On October 13, local time, the “Meet China” Special Section of the 6th China-EU Film Festival was held at the ASSOCIATION DES AMIS DE NOUVELLES D’EUROPE. (Photo: Li Yang, China News)
Counselor Wang Jian of the Press and Public Diplomacy Section at the Chinese Embassy in France, President Zhong Cheng of Nouvelles D’Europe, and Deputy Director Hu Fang of the School of Journalism and Communication at Communication University of China (CUC) delivered speeches at the event.
In the speech, Zhong Chen said that this year marks the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations. The past 60 years registered an array of encouraging results in Sino-France collaboration in various areas. The China-EU Film Festival, as a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Europe, plays an active role in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the people in China and European countries. He indicated that films could depict and deliver the emotions, dreams, and stories of different nations as an art form that crosses languages and cultures into the world. Today's “Meet China” special section showcases a diverse and vibrant China through selected film works, allowing French audiences to feel the pulse of China and gain a deeper understanding of it. China and France share common cultural pursuits and values, so we could leverage films to know each other better and expand more collaboration potential. He sincerely hopes for more such cultural exchange activities to be held in the future.
▲ Zhong Chen, President of President of Nouvelles D'Europe delivered a speech.
Hu Fang spoke on behalf of the Communication University of China, one of the co-organizers of the event. She said that the Communication University of China is a Double-first-class university directly under the Ministry of Education of China, which is dedicated to cultivating excellent media talent. It is a prestigious university whose 70th anniversary was celebrated by President Xi Jinping with his letter of congratulations. She also said the China-EU Film Festival is an international event supported by both parties that aims to discover excellent film works, promote international communication and collaboration, and foster people-to-people understanding.
▲ Hu Fang, Deputy Director of the CUC Faculty of Journalism and Communication delivered a speech.
This year, the “Meet China” Special Section was organized by the Film Festival Organizing Committee to showcase the charm of China through a series of films. One of these films, Living in China, documents the 18-year life and work experiences of French TV star Olivier Grandjean in China, as well as his attachment to the country. At the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, these films serve as a bridge of culture and friendship between the two countries.
▲ Living in China recoded French TV host Olivier Grandjean’s everyday life, work experience and attachment to China of 18 years.
After watching the films, Minister-Counselor Wang Jian highly praised the content and delivered a speech. He emphasized two crucial milestones: the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France this year, and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU next year. He expressed his great pleasure to hold the 6th China-EU Film Festival at this moment, and extended his gratitude to the organizers—the Communication University of China and Nouvelles D’Europe (a French-language newspaper in China), as well as his congratulations to the producers and creators of the exhibited and award-winning films. These films vividly portray China from various perspectives, some through the eyes of foreigners. He stressed that China and France are cultural powers, representative civilizations of the East and West, and therefore have common interests in cultural exchanges. As the world situation and the development of the two countries change, especially under the impact of the pandemic, new conditions have emerged in people-to-people exchanges, mutual trust, and understanding between China and France.
▲Wang Jian, an Official Member of the Press and Public Diplomacy Section of the Chinese Embassy in France delivered a speech.
As the saying goes, “Seeing is believing”. Wang Jian, Minister-Counsellor, hopes that members of all sectors of French society, especially young people, will visit China to gain an understanding of China, which is open and inclusive, ancient yet modern, and undergoing constant development and change, and is willing to coexist peacefully with other countries. Today, the world needs communication and exchanges even more than ever before.
The films selected and projected in Parise unfolded a multi-faceted China ranging from natural spectaculars to the modern urban lifestyle. A band of films was displayed, including China Expression—the Path to Openness, Digital Adventures of China Travel, and Living in China: Olivier Grandjean, The Wonderful Xinjiang—Heavenly Steeds: Yili Horses, Journeys in China: Elephants’ Migration and China Season II: Mongolian Horse.
▲Exhibition works shown at the event (Photo: Li Yang, China News)
Hugo Torstein, the Production Manager of Flare Media Group in France, and Karim Hufayed, a documentary director, engaged in an in-depth discussion on how contemporary Chinese imagery can convey cultural stories through an international lens, sparking lively discussions among the audience. Teachers and students from the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines actively participated in the discussion, creating a lively atmosphere at the event.
Flare Media Group and Karim Hufayed Engaged in a Discussion on Site
Teachers and students of Université de Versailles watching the film
Teachers and students of Université de Versailles took an active part in the event.
Leveraging Language Strength to Facilitate Sino-EU Cultural Exchanges
Many students enrolled in the 2023 Master’s Program in International Journalism and Communication played an active role in the “Meet China” Special Section at the China-EU Film Festival, contributing their professional expertise to the films being showcased.
▲ Journeys in China: Elephants’ Migration and China Season II: Mongolian Horse were displayed at “Meet China” Special Section.
They took on the dubbing and post-production work for the French versions of the films, taking meticulous care of every detail, from language and imagery to audio, to ensure high-quality presentations. Their efforts resulted in the films being showcased brilliantly at the “Meet China” special section, serving as a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Europe.
▲ Students of the 2023 Class of the Master’s Program in International Journalism and Communication participated in the hosting and dubbing of Journeys in China: Elephants’ Migration
“The Wonderful Xinjiang” is a series of multilingual short videos co-produced by faculty members and students at the School of Television and Film, Communication University of China. The series has received wide acclaim from audiences from various countries at the screening venue. Leveraging their minor language expertise, the students of the 2023 Master’s Program in International Journalism and Communication, combined with their knowledge of international communication of audiovisual works and skills in multilingual dubbing and subtitling, created 11 versions of “The Wonderful Xinjiang” in languages including French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic, bringing the unique customs and beautiful scenery of Xinjiang to audiences worldwide.
▲ “The Wonderful Xinjiang - Heavenly Steeds: Yili Horses” was featured at the “Meet China” Special Section.
In addition to international exchange events such as the China-EU Film Festival, the “The Wonderful Xinjiang” series will be launched on the overseas social media platforms of China’s mainstream media, as well as the mainstream media of countries along the Belt and Road Initiative routes and media resource platforms of embassies and consulates abroad. These episodes will also be displayed on screens at China’s embassies and consulates overseas, overseas Chinese cultural centers, Confucius Institutes, urban public spaces, transportation hubs, and tourist attractions, thus creating a comprehensive international communication network that integrates online and offline platforms, as well as large and small screens.
▲The students of the 2023 Class of the Master’s Program in International Journalism and Communication engaged in the multi-language translation of “Our Beautiful Xinjiang”
Volunteering to Promote Sino-European Civilization Exchange
Chen Mohan
International Journalism Major of the 2023 Class
As a volunteer at the China-EU Film Festival, I learned a lot from my film projection work. The films presented at the “Meet China” Special Sectio serve as windows to offer French audiences a glimpse of a diverse and vibrant China and an amazing experience to feel its pulse, culture, development, and dreams because films can help us pass through the barriers of languages and culture. It makes me realize the significance of cultural exchange. China and France, with common ground in cultural pursuits, deepen their mutual understanding and discover collaboration opportunities through films. I am more than proud to see Living in China become a cultural bridge between China and France that promotes mutual understanding and friendship. I expect more of such activities to create more cultural.
Lai Chenxi
International Journalism Major of the 2023 Class
A package of short documentaries played at the opening ceremony of the China-EU Film Festival highlights the bond between China and Europe from an intriguing perspective. The wide range of films showcased at the event provided a feast for eyes and ears, which comes from China. People love such cultural exchanges.
Wang Jiarong
International Journalism Major of the 2023 Class
The short films played at the “Meet China” Special Section depict the rapport between China and the EU with historical significance, modern fashion, and vibrance. These films took foreign audiences to travel through time and space to experience the kaleidoscopic social changes in China and expect a beautiful future where China and the EU progress and develop hand in hand with cultural integration and exchanges.
Wu Zhuoran
International Journalism Major of the 2023 Class
At the site, we found young foreign audiences and organizer staff members engaged in active discussion on the Chinese lifestyle displayed in the films. Local visitors capture what they see at the festival with cameras. Belgian students keen on Mandarin learning talked with us after the film projection. Communication with local audiences makes me realize China in their eyes: It is more than a faraway land with distinctive culture food and landscape, but a smart and momentous country. We should further our efforts to tell China’s stories to the world and make our credible, lovely, and respectable motherland more accessible to them.
Teng Ruibei
International Journalism Major of the 2023 Class
During the process of translating and dubbing the serial video “The Wonderful Xinjiang” into French, I was deeply impressed by the power of language and the charm of culture. Translation and dubbing are more than just conveying the literal meaning; they are about showcasing the beauty, diversity, and development of Xinjiang. Each translation task presented me with challenges in terms of translation skills and language expression and helped me improve my abilities. Dubbing, on the other hand, required me to bring the unique charm of Xinjiang to life through my voice, infusing it with emotion and vitality. This job demands not only accuracy in information but also vivid emotional expression to engage and captivate the audience. Participating in the “The Wonderful Xinjiang” project not only enhanced my language skills but also deepened my understanding and passion for cross-cultural communication. It was a truly valuable experience of cultural exchange and dissemination and one that I will cherish forever.
Gao Han
Radio and Television Major of the 2023 Class
When the festival concluded, many European students shared with me their impressions. They were captivated by the vivid representation of China's historical scenes, the entertaining virtual tour of smart cities, and the relaxed lifestyle documented by the well-known French TV host Olivier while in China. This event revolutionized their perception of China, a land that has always been exotic and mysterious to them, shrouded in hearsay. Witnessing the implementation of Meet China has made me deeply appreciate the importance of international communication. We must showcase China’s charm from a common perspective, based on a thorough understanding of both cultures. This is a topic I will continue to explore and refine in the coming year.
▲Students’ volunteer certificate
The China-EU Film Festival stands as a cultural bridge that enhances European audiences’ understanding and interest in China’s films and culture. It fosters understanding and friendship between China and Europe, offering high-level professional support throughout the festival. This event brings fresh perspectives to Sino-EU cultural exchanges by attracting students passionate about Chinese studies and filmmaking, thus injecting new vitality into the cultural dialogue. The students of the 2023 Class of the Master’s Program in International Journalism and Communication actively participated in every aspect of the festival, from early dubbing to final film projection, contributing their part in promoting Chinese culture internationally.
In the future, these students will capitalize on creative practice opportunities to sharpen their skills in international communication through hands-on experience. They will dive into international exchanges, making the best of current opportunities to effectively connect and communicate with the global community based on a profound understanding of both China and the world. Moreover, we will capitalize on our youth to tell China’s stories loudly and confidently, addressing the challenges of the international communication era with wisdom and creativity.
( Editor: Zhu Binger )
