Canada China International Film Festival returns to Concordia

The Canada China International Film Festival (CCIFF) returned to Concordia on Wednesday with a special screening – in partnership with National Canadian Film Day.

The full 7th edition of CCIFF will be held this July 16-19 in Montreal and Beijing.

The festival will promote exchanges between Chinese and Canadian film culture, foster cooperation and encourage communication between artists and filmmakers from both countries. Additionally, CCIFF will showcase the latest innovations in entertainment technology.

Miao Song was a founding member in 2016 and is the festival’s director.

“(It’s) an important platform to connect with people, to make them understand each other’s culture. So all the films have English subtitles and French subtitles even though it’s a new foreign language. I believe we are all connected together,” said Song.

Whether you are a fan of martial arts, comedy or even virtual reality films, CCIFF has something for everyone. It’s also a platform to speak up and out, and encourage conversations.

“We are thinking to have a very innovative ways. We will do a gala, we’ll be hybrid. We’ll be in the dome, it’s a set, a famous set in Montreal. And also we will do online streaming in real time. So, you know, in this VR metaverse environment, so connected with audiences from all over the world.” 

 

“(It’s) the only festival that is able to connect all the filmmakers between Canada and China. I am one of the very fortunate filmmakers,” said Jimmy Chan, the documentary filmmaker behind “Saving Chinatown The Rise of the Dragons.”

“When they saw my documentary, they were really touched. … The festival had decided to world premiere my documentary. It was a huge success and impact to different level of government, the different level of society community in Montreal,” said Chan, who points to the film as helping get Chinatown heritage status.

“It is so important for me because of the past and the current time and also how this our community will lead to the future, not just only for the Chinese generation, also for all generations in diversity. Not just for the Chinese, but for many, many people, different multicultural community that they have been experiencing racism.”

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