China-Africa Film Development Forum Held at Xiangtan University

Edited by: Zhang Gan

Translated by Li Tingting, Xiao Liang

On June 13, the China-Africa Film Development Forum was held atXiangtan University. Over 400 guests gathered for in-depth exchanges, including the Ambassador of Somalia to China, the Mayor of Maluti City, Free State Province, South Africa, experts and scholars from the China-Africa film industry, representatives of lead creators of the films screened at the forum, and representatives of African students studying in Hunan.

Nine African political dignitaries, experts and scholars from the film industry delivered speeches respectively on topics including:Rainbow of Light and Shadow: Writing a New Chapter of China-Africa Friendship,Screen Diplomacy: The Role of African Films in Building a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,China-Africa Film Cooperation and Community Aesthetics,Illuminating the Path of the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future Through Film,African Film Studies from the Perspective of Chinese Academia,Brilliant Coexistence of Sun and Moon: Building a Bridge Between Two Worlds,Documentary Filmmakingby Chinesein Africa,China-Africa Film Festival: Historical Context and Innovative Approaches.Centering on the theme ofBuilding a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future of Common Cultural Prosperity, they shared insights from dimensions including policy cooperation, artistic innovation and industrial connectivity, and advocated taking light and shadow as a bridge to deepen mutual learning between Chinese and African civilizations and promote the common prosperity of the film industries of both sides.

In the subsequentround-tableforum, Chinese and foreign guests engaged indiscussions on the international communication of China-Africa film culture, putting forward a set of practical strategies for promoting China-Africa films to the global stage. During the expert seminar, eighteen guests offered suggestions covering screenplay creation, talent training models, and film and television technological cooperation. They provided abundant theoretical and practical solutions for innovative China-Africa film cooperation, helping expand diverse possibilities for collaboration in the film sector between China and Africa.