Oct 16, 2019

Silk Road International Film Festival and Cambodia Asian Film Festival Sign Alliance Pact to Jointly Boost Film Industry Development

The 6th Silk Road International Film Festival was held in Fuzhou from October 15 to 20. As a key segment of the festival, the Cambodia Pavilion under the Silk Road Countries Film Promotion Center officially opened at the Little Yellow Mansion in Three Lanes and Seven Alleys on the afternoon of October 16, kicking off a grand China-Cambodia film industry exchange event. Guo Ningning, Vice Governor of Fujian Provincial People's Government, and H.E. Som Sokun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia and Honorary Chair of the Cambodia Asian Film Festival, attended the ceremony. Other attendees included Borak Pok, Head of the National Film Department of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia and Honorary Advisor to the Cambodia Asian Film Festival; Ruan Xiaoying, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee and Director of the Publicity Department; You Sunquan, Deputy Director of the Culture and Education Division, General Office of Fujian Provincial People's Government; Wang Jiang, Director of the Film Bureau, Publicity Department of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee; Chen Riguan, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee; and Lin Jingjin, Party Secretary and Chairman of Fuzhou Cultural Investment Group Co., Ltd.

H.E. Som Sokun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Honorary Chair of the Cambodia Asian Film Festival; Yan Shaofei, Secretary-General of China Film Association; Chen Riguan, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee; and Borak Pok, Head of the Film Department of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia and Honorary Advisor to the Cambodia Asian Film Festival, jointly unveiled the Cambodia Pavilion.

This year marks the 61st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Cambodia. Driven by sound economic growth, the Belt and Road Initiative and ASEAN development strategies, Cambodia's film industry has achieved rapid progress in recent years. It has delivered remarkable breakthroughs including 5K production technology and international co-productions. Hosted every December in Phnom Penh, the Cambodia Asian Film Festival has become a pivotal platform for Asian filmmakers to exchange and cooperate, drawing wider global attention to Asian cinema and unlocking new investment and growth opportunities for the regional film sector.

In his address, H.E. Som Sokun commended the Silk Road International Film Festival as a premium platform for China-Cambodia film exchanges alongside the Cambodia Asian Film Festival. He noted that Cambodia's film industry faces multiple hurdles amid globalization, including weak market competitiveness, outdated technology and a shortage of professional talent. As China and Cambodia forge a comprehensive strategic partnership, the two film festivals will jointly serve as a vital forum to unlock the full potential of Cambodia's tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Speech by H.E. Som Sokun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Honorary Chair of the Cambodia Asian Film Festival

He elaborated that the Silk Road International Film Festival has set up a dedicated Cambodia National Pavilion this year, while the Cambodia Asian Film Festival will launch a China Pavilion in its December session. The positive two-way interaction between the two festivals will create an ideal venue for film producers and industry professionals to exchange expertise, generate new film investment prospects and deliver substantial progress to both nations'film industries.

That afternoon, the Executive Office of the Silk Road International Film Festival (Fuzhou) and the Organizing Committee of Cambodia Asian Film Festival signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance. Moving forward, both sides will take the film industry as the bond of cooperation, carry forward the spirit of the Silk Road, consolidate the friendship bridge between China and Cambodia, and advance the integration and development of diverse cultures and civilizations.

Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance. Borak Pok, Head of the Film Department of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Lin Jingjin, Party Secretary and Chairman of Fuzhou Cultural Investment Group Co., Ltd., signed the document as representatives of the two sides.

Guo Ningning, Vice Governor of Fujian Provincial People's Government; H.E. Som Sokun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Honorary Chair of the Cambodia Asian Film Festival; Borak Pok, Head of the National Film Department of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia and Honorary Advisor to the Cambodia Asian Film Festival; Ruan Xiaoying, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee and Director of the Publicity Department; and Lin Jingjin, Party Secretary and Chairman of Fuzhou Cultural Investment Group Co., Ltd., jointly held the scroll to witness the signing of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance MOU.

In an interview with journalists, H.E. Som Sokun stated that the alliance between the Cambodia Asian Film Festival and the Silk Road International Film Festival aims to build a stronger platform for in-depth international professional cooperation across Asia's film and television sector. Through sincere joint efforts for shared prosperity, the alliance will facilitate experience-sharing among filmmakers from both countries, generate more film investment channels and accelerate the implementation of joint film projects.

Representatives from China and Cambodia exchanged gifts symbolizing China-Cambodia friendship. Lin Jingjin, Party Secretary and Chairman of Fuzhou Cultural Investment Group, and Som Sokun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia & Honorary Chairman of Cambodia Asian Film Festival, presented gifts to each other.

Guo Ningning, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Fujian Province, held cordial talks with Som Sokkun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia and Honorary Chairman of the Cambodia Asian Film Festival.

Yan Shaofei, Secretary-General of the China Film Association, remarked that the signing between the two festivals expands the scale of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance and elevates its series of events, enabling filmmakers from Belt and Road countries to deepen mutual understanding and achieve win-win collaboration.