A Platform for Discovery

The Beijing International Film Festival is gearing up for its 15th edition, scheduled to run from April 18-26 in the Chinese capital. A key component of the festival, the Forward Future section, will present 15 films dedicated to showcasing the talents of new filmmakers. Launched in 2014, this program specifically focuses on directors presenting their first or second feature films, offering a crucial platform for emerging voices in cinema.

The Jury’s Vision

Presiding over the Forward Future program as jury president is Hungarian director, screenwriter, adn producer Béla Tarr, renowned for his works such as Damnation, Satan’s Tango, and The Man From London. Tarr’s involvement underscores the festival’s commitment to artistic vision and innovative storytelling. joining him on the jury are prominent figures from the film industry, including Chinese actress Jin Chen (also known as Gina Jin), Chinese actor Song yang, Japanese director, screenwriter, and actor Sabu, and Swiss director and screenwriter Cyril Schäublin.Their collective expertise promises a discerning selection process.

Festival Promises Innovation

Organizers of the Beijing festival emphasize the Forward Future section’s dedication to innovative spirit, unique styles, and cutting-edge filmmaking. The program aims to provide insight into the perspectives and concerns of young filmmakers from around the world, fostering a global dialog through cinema.

featured Films and Directors

This year’s program includes notable works from first-time Chinese directors, including jing Yi’s The Botanist, which recently premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, and Tao Shen’s Floating Clouds Obscure the Sun. Also featured is Austrian writer-director Bernhard Wenger’s Peacock. These selections highlight the festival’s commitment to showcasing diverse cinematic voices.

Main Competition Jury

Adding to the festival’s prestige, chinese actor-director Jiang Wen (known for roles in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Let the Bullets Fly) will head the main competition jury, which will award the Tiantan Award. the jury also includes Chinese American director and actor Joan Chen (The Last Emperor), British director David Yates (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Chinese actor Ni Ni, finnish director Teemu Nikki, Swiss director and actor Vincent Perez, and Hong Kong art director tim Yip.

Forward Future Program Lineup

The following films comprise the Forward Future program at the Beijing Film Festival:

• Nobody Wants to Shoot a Woman (Director: Kerry Ann Enright)
• My Eternal Summer (Director: Sylvia the fuf)
• At the Bench (Director: Yoshiyuki Okuyama)
• The Lonely Musketeer (Director: Nicolai Schumann)
• Thorn (Director: daniel poles)
• peacock (Director: Bernhard Wenger)
• The Poet (Director: Felix umarov)
• Sugar Island (Director: Johanné Gómez Terrero)
• Our Lovely Pig Slaughter (Director: Adam Martinec)
• In the Name of Blood (Director: Akaki Popping)
• MONGRELS (Director: Jerome Woman)
• Lift (Director: Oskar Weimar)
• It Is Only Sound That remains (Director: Ali Farahmand)
• Floating Clouds Obscure the Sun (Director: Tao Shen)
• The Botanist (Director: Yi Jing)