Song Wen, founder of the FIRST International Film Festival, discusses the history of one of China's most promising festivals for the visual arts. Once in danger of being shut down by the authorities in Beijing, the festival has found a new...See moreSong Wen, founder of the FIRST International Film Festival, discusses the history of one of China's most promising festivals for the visual arts. Once in danger of being shut down by the authorities in Beijing, the festival has found a new home in China's west - the provincial capital of Qinghai Province, Xining. This year, hundreds of films were screened to more than 30,000 audience members, and 19 budding directors emerged from a highly selective process to pitch their films to China's film industry elites. Today, Song Wen explains how the festival has evolved from a minor student event to one of the most important cultural events in China's still-maturing film industry.
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