2017-08-21

On August 21^st, 2017, Chairman ZHANG Yi and Mr. Antonio Gellini, Founder and Chairman of World Film Institute (WFI) signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement between ECMDC and WFI in Beijing. Both parties will forge the synergy in the aspects of international film industry exchange programs, film talents training, film market exploitation and the establishment of the Film Industry Innovation Hub. Both parties will jointly introduce the international high-quality film industry resources into China with a view to furthering the development of Chinese film industry and providing the new channel for Chinese film products and talents to enter the international film market.

Mr. ZHANG Yi and Mr. Antonio Gellini

The World Film Institute (WFI) is a non-profit organization focused on the advancement and recognition of multi-national film making and entertainment. The institute was founded by producer/director Antonio Gellini alongside interested filmmakers, production and distribution companies, and executives from the worlds entertainment centers. In today’s fast changing world, the World Film Institute is a central organization that fulfills the desires for all cultures, races and nationalities to participate in the entertainment industry. Reaching beyond the “first world”, the institute will strive to bring the possibility of film production to those who do not have access to equipment, training, distribution and recognition. The members of the World Film Institute receive advanced technical support services, training, scholarship, and information resources in an effort to meet film making needs globally. The recognition for excellent film making comes in the form of the Family Film Awards and the Olympia Awards.

Mr. ZHANG Yi extended his warm welcome to the visiting of Mr. Antonio Gellini. Mr. ZHANG Yi made the detailed introduction to the work of ECMDC in the aspect of international film industry cooperation. He remarked, China is actively engaged in the international cooperation within the framework of “the Belt and Road” Initiative in order to deepen the reform and broaden the opening-up. People-to-people bond is the important component of the Belt and Road construction, which is also the foundation of the forthcoming cooperation with mutual benefits. ECMDC intends to choose the international film industry cooperation as the entry point, and reinforce the mutual understanding among different nations through the exchange of film products at home and abroad. In the meanwhile, ECMDC aims to enhance the competitiveness of Chinese film industry, which will enable more and more foreign friends to know Chinese culture and China. ECMDC has partnered up with Chinese and foreign authoritative institutions of the film industry. Henceforth, ECMDC is looking forward to the partnership with WFI to implement the cooperation with mutual benefits and introduce more and more international high-quality film industry resources into China.

Mr. Antonio Gellini expressed his gratitude to the warm reception from Mr. ZHANG Yi. He highly recognized the work undertaken by ECMDC. He said, since the status of China in the international community is more and more important, more and more international friends hope to know China thoroughly. To watch Chinese film products and know Chinese culture, this is the primary choice for many foreigners. He remarked, although Chinese film products and industry have made the great achievements, it is a challenging issue as for how to present Chinese film products in the way that is easier for the international audience to understand. WFI is quite willing to make full use of its platform and networking to work with ECMDC in assisting Chinese film products in entering the international film market, and enhancing the competitiveness of Chinese film industry in a better way. Therefore, WFI expects to establish the strategic partnership with ECMDC.

Mr. ZHANG Yi and Mr. Antonio Gellini held the in-depth discussion as for the details of the cooperation with mutual benefits and the related road map. Later, they jointly signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement. ECMDC and WFI will form the cooperation entity, and create the exchange platform for the international film industry, cultivate talents of film industry, exploit the international film market and establish the Film Industry Innovation Hub. ECMDC and WFI aim to establish the two-way cooperation mechanism and promote the development of Chinese film industry through the implementation of concrete cooperation projects.