Academy President Janet Yang Highlights China-Hollywood Bridge at Beijing Film Festival

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At the Beijing International Film Festival, Janet Yang – the head of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – underscored the significance of cross-cultural collaboration between the globe’s largest movie markets. As a Chinese-American filmmaker who has long bridged these industries, she highlighted her personal experiences in driving connections between them for many years.

Yang expressed to the audience that her personal and professional encounters with films have shown them a special ability to unite people, and this belief makes her consistently hopeful about cross-cultural interactions not just between our two countries, but globally. She was discussing this at the festival’s event titled ‘How Far Can China’s Film Market Grow?’

As I stand at the threshold of concluding my tenure as Academy president, I can’t help but reminisce about my groundbreaking journey that brought Chinese cinema into the limelight for global audiences. I’ve been instrumental in paving the way for significant Hollywood productions within China’s borders, such as Steven Spielberg’s “Empire of the Sun” and Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Last Emperor.

The head of the Academy observed a notable lack of gifted individuals from Greater China among its approximately 11,000 members, despite an increasing appreciation for international cinema as demonstrated by South Korea’s “Parasite” being the first non-English film to win Best Picture in 2020.

She emphasized significant achievements in the expansion of China’s film industry, specifically mentioning Xu Zheng’s “Lost in Thailand” (2012) as a turning point that generated over 200 million dollars on a limited budget and played a crucial role in surpassing the 1 billion dollar mark at the Chinese box office for the first time.

Additionally, Yang highlighted the significant achievements of stories originating from the Asian diaspora recently. For instance, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” bagged seven Oscars, including the top honor of Best Picture. Moreover, films like “Past Lives” and “Minari” were also recognized with Best Picture nominations. Furthermore, she acknowledged the rising fame of Chinese cinema, referring to Guan Hu’s latest work, “Black Dog,” which was honored with the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes last year.

Yang noted that these movies demonstrate that an audience doesn’t have to comprehensively grasp a culture in order to be emotionally touched by it. What truly fosters a connection are the elements of authenticity and specificity.

Yang stated that this is a fantastic chance for Chinese filmmakers to expand their reach globally, collaborate with international partners, distribute films worldwide, and potentially work with members of the diaspora to create complex stories that enhance Chinese portrayal and boost global influence.

At the festival’s inaugural event, Yang chose not to mention the Chinese government’s move to limit the number of American films entering China, which some attribute to the trade disputes started by President Donald Trump.

In Yang’s keynote address, she emphasized that as filmmaking advances worldwide with emerging technologies and boundary-breaking platforms, Chinese filmmakers must adopt innovative strategies like cross-border collaboration. This approach not only enriches Chinese storytelling but also opens up substantial financial prospects. By teaming up with international artists who appreciate Chinese culture, they can boost the global dissemination of their narratives, thereby serving as a bridge to cultural advancement and an economic advantage for everyone involved.

As we move forward, Yang tackled upcoming industry issues such as the potential drop in box office revenues post-pandemic and the role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. At the same time, he expressed a positive outlook about the growing impact of Chinese culture on a global scale, citing recent triumphs like “Black Myth: Wukong” and the adaptation of “The Three-Body Problem”.

The highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster film “Ne Zha 2” is a significant highlight of the festival. Yang expressed that this phenomenon, in itself, has transformed into a potent cultural moment and an exhilarating milestone. These indications suggest a larger trend at play. The cultural influence of China is escalating, and it’s asserting its rightful position on the global stage.

Yang expressed his belief that a Chinese-language movie could soon win the Best Picture Oscar at the Oscars, ending with a passionate “Count me in as someone who will definitely be rooting for it!

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2025-04-20 11:49