On October 25th, the second Shanghai Audio-Visual Boutique Promotion Conference and Shanghai-London Film Industry Dialogue took place at the British Film Institute headquarters in London. The event gathered representatives from government departments, industry associations, production and distribution companies, as well as producers, directors, and actors from both the UK and China.
Hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and the Shanghai Municipal Radio and Television Bureau, and organized by Phoenix Television, the event featured a keynote address from Li Liyan, a ministerial counselor from the Chinese Embassy in the UK. He emphasized the significance of today’s dialogue in strengthening collaboration between Shanghai and London in the film and television industry. “Both countries possess unique strengths in cultural creativity and the film industry that can be mutually beneficial,” he said, advocating for stronger partnerships and deeper cooperation.
Luo Yi, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, spoke about the shared commitment both nations have to cultural preservation, innovation, and development. He highlighted the complementary advantages in film content creation and business models, expressing hope that this dialogue would evolve into a sustained platform for industry collaboration and creative exchanges, ultimately enhancing cooperation and understanding between the two cities.
Dai Ruijun, Director of Service and Skills at the UK Department for Business and Trade, noted that recent interactions between the creative industries of both countries have been frequent, allowing film professionals to engage deeply in various activities and build mutual understanding. He expressed optimism for further advancement in collaborative efforts within the creative and film sectors.
Adrian Wootton, CEO of the London Film Commission, pointed out similarities between London and Shanghai as both are leading global centers for the film industry, utilizing technology and innovation to enhance cultural content. He regarded the event as an excellent platform to deepen understanding and discuss potential collaborations.
Chinese actor Lu Yi shared his perspective on the cultural, economic, and lifestyle similarities between Shanghai and London. He expressed a desire to bring Chinese stories to an overseas audience in hopes of fostering greater understanding of China, while also allowing domestic viewers to see a broader world through their collaborative projects. Fellow actor Huang Yi added that she aims to embody a variety of roles to showcase China’s rich historical culture to the world.
The format of the dialogue included project presentations, keynote speeches, project promotions, screenings, and roundtable discussions among professionals, highlighting outstanding film projects such as collaborative documentaries, national-style animations, and urban-focused series.
