China-EU Film Festival ends: Image exchange encounters new AI production tools

 The 8th China-EU Film Festival was held in Brussels, Belgium from September 23 to 29.On September 26, the “Meet China” international communication unit awarded multiple awards. Works from the International Department of People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency European Branch, China Daily, Phoenix TV and other teams won awards. Films such as "My Distance, My Road" were screened on site.

《My Distance, My Road》focuses the camera on ordinary people along the Hungary-Serbia railway.This railway is one of the landmark projects of the Belt and Road Initiative jointly built by China and Central and Eastern European countries.The Hungarian farmers in the film are looking forward to their agricultural products entering further markets, Chinese engineers go to foreign countries to participate in construction, and Serbian drivers drive EMUs made in China.Their work, life and expectations form a concrete story of transnational collaboration.

Bernardz Zako, the final judge of the “Meet China” unit, said that cross-cultural communication requires respecting each other’s cultural background and lifestyle.The film festival allows Chinese and European audiences and creators to meet continuously, helping to deepen the understanding of each other's cultures.

Another discussion revolves around artificial intelligence.Thomas Kucera, chairman of the “Artificial Intelligence Imaging and Future Narrative” unit, believes that AI will affect the film industry, but the director and story still determine the quality of the film.He said: “Artificial intelligence makes film production faster and cheaper, but artificial intelligence brings more changes in production tools.”

The China-EU Film Festival was founded in 2015.This event also arranged a special screening of youth short films, as well as exchanges between Chinese and European universities and youth.