The second Beijing Film Market (April 24-26) wrapped on Thursday after three days of increased participation and business, although delegates agreed that it remains a mostly domestic Chinese event.
The market was undoubtedly on a much larger scale than the inaugural edition held at the Beijing International Hotel last year. This year, around 200 companies took booths at the China National Convention Centre, around 40 of which came from outside China and Hong Kong.
Foreign exhibitors included a delegation of companies under the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) umbrella, UniJapan/TIFFCOM, Israel’s Dan Wolman Film Production, Odin’s Eye Entertainment from Australia and the Namibia Film Commission.
On the buyer side, participants were mostly from mainland China and represented a broad range of online, TV and all rights distributors.
The market also featured a projects market, “Project Pitch & Catch”, which selected 20 projects deemed suitable for co-production, including animation Legend Of A Rabbit 2 and Jia Zhangke-produced Imperial Exam.
As last year, the accompanying Beijing International Film Festival, organised by the Beijing city government and State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), has been a showcase of the capital’s economic clout and cultural ambitions. It featured a grand opening ceremony, reminiscent of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and attracted big names such as James Cameron, Jeremy Renner and Fox Filmed Entertainment chief Jim Gianopulos.
Due to its financial muscle and location, at the centre of the world’s fast-growing film market, the event is likely to grow in prominence. However, market participants said they believed it would take a few years before it challenged other major film markets in the region such as Filmart, Busan and TIFFCOM.
The festival wraps tomorrow (April 28) with a closing ceremony and screening of The Artist.
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