{"id":607,"date":"2019-04-11T15:57:59","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T07:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstfilm.org.cn\/how\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T22:54:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:54:52","slug":"how","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.firstfilm.org.cn\/en\/sponsorship\/how\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooperation"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

As a competitive, comprehensive film festival, the FIRST International Film Festival encompasses competition sections, programmed screenings and award ceremonies, industry activities, the Training Camp, various forums, and galas. During the annual festival period, it showcases approximately 100 outstanding films from around the world, including projects featured at top-tier international festivals such as Cannes, Berlinale, and Sundance. Filmmakers are invited to Xining to engage in live discussions with audiences.<\/p>\r\n

For the film industry segment, FIRST established the Film Mart, which comprises the Financing Forum and Industry Screening. This initiative aims to create a dynamic, professional platform integrating dialogue and deal-making functions. Concurrently held during the festival are the Training Camp, Master Forums, and events like Xining Nights, attracting participation from cinephiles and industry guests worldwide.<\/p>\r\n

Operating year-round, FIRST also opens public tour programming, a short film season, and lab workshops globally during the non-festival period.<\/p>\r\n

In recent years, the Jury Presidents of FIRST have been XIE Fei (2014), JIANG Wen (2015), WONG Kar-wai (2016), LOU Ye (2017), CHEN Kuo-fu (2018), DIAO Yinan (2019), Peter CHAN (2020), and Sylvia CHANG (2021). The Spokespersons have been DENG Chao (2014), HUANG Bo (2015), CHEN Kun (2016), ZHOU Xun (2017), ZHAO Wei (2018), DIAO Yinan (2019), Peter CHAN (2020), Sylvia CHANG (2021), ZHANG Ziyi (2022), Joan CHEN (2023), TIGER Hu GUAN (2024), and Isabelle HUPPERT (2025).<\/p>\r\n

FIRST introduced the “Person of the Year” role in 2019: HU Ge, ZHU Yawen, WANG Chuanjun, ZHOU Dongyu, HAI Qing, LI Fei. The 2020 Persons of the Year were: HUANG Bo, HUANG Xuan, JING Boran, WEN Muye, JACKSON Yee. The 2021 Persons of the Year were: HUANG Xiaoming, YAO Chen, LEI Jiayin, XIN Yukun, with Rising Talent Ambassadors: CHUN Xia, DONG Zijian, LIU Haoran, PENG Yuchang, WEN Qi. The 2022 Persons of the Year were: CAI Chengjie, MA Li, SONG Jia, YUAN Quan, with Rising Talent Ambassadors: ZHANG Youhao, ZHOU You, ZHONG Chuxi. The 2023 Persons of the Year were: MA Yili, ZHANG Xiaofei, ZHANG Songwen, with Rising Talent Ambassadors: CHEN Feiyu, Adam FAN, YIN Fang. The 2024 Persons of the Year are: GU Xiaogang, YANG Haoyu, CHANG Chen. With their participation and support, the FIRST brand’s influence has steadily grown, its activities have become increasingly diverse, and the operational budget for its year-round programs is entirely self-financed by the Festival Committee.<\/p>\r\n

The significance of FIRST extends beyond encouraging young filmmakers to embrace artistic spirit. We aim to inspire the industry and engage audiences by showcasing cinematic creativity, drawing attention to cultural vitality. In our pursuit of this goal, all partners supporting FIRST are powerful fellow travelers.<\/p>\r\n

We express our deep gratitude to all partners who share our faith in the spirit of cinema. You are the bridge accompanying FIRST across solitary islands. Please believe that partnering with FIRST offers not only professional exposure but also serves as a stabilizer enhancing your brand visibility and credibility. We firmly believe that the energy radiated by young filmmakers transcends FIRST’s own growth, invigorating partners across diverse fields who journey alongside us.<\/p>\r\n

Join us in painting an even fresher and more vibrant cinematic world.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a competitive, comprehensive film festival, the FIRST International Film Festival encompasses competition sections, programmed screenings and award ceremonies, industry activities, the Training Camp, various forums, and galas. During the annual festival period, it showcases approximately 100 outstanding films from around the world, including projects featured at top-tier international festivals such as Cannes, Berlinale, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":22929,"parent":624,"menu_order":803,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-cooperation-how.php","meta":[],"acf":{"detail":"

Brand Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Film Fest provides regular and customized ways to partner with brand sponsors. The regular mode relies on the Fest\u2019s resources and combines the brand\u2019s image. The customized mode relies on the programming team to create new contents to suit the needs of a certain brand.<\/p>\n

Please contact \u00a0xingyanan@firstfilm.org.cn<\/a> \u00a0for sponsorship benefits and more details<\/span><\/p>\n

Previous Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apple, Canon, Baume & Mercier, Ant Financial, Audi, Johnny Walker, Jameson<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Industry Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Festival aims to promote cooperation with industry players by establishing brand partnerships during FIRST Industry Screenings, Competition, Training Camp and other Festival sections.<\/p>\n

FIRST Industries covers the entire film industrial cycle. By paying special attention to mid-to-lower budget projects, it builds a healthy environment for filmmakers with great growing potentials. FIRST Mart includes Financing Forum and Industry Screenings.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a professional platform for young filmmakers, FIRST Financing Forum attracts over 800 feature film projects each year, with the participation of over 200 companies and nearly 1,000 industry guests. In the past three year, over 40% of all projects from the Financing Forum have finished shooting, establishing a healthy creative apparatus in the Chinese film industry. Internationally acclaimed films like An Elephant Sitting Still<\/em>, Old Beast <\/em>and The Looming Storm<\/em>all came from the Financing Forum.<\/p>\n

For the past two years, FIRST Industry Screening has established an effective venue for deals and dialogue between young filmmakers and various distribution and business channels, with a closing rate approaching 65%. By participating in the Industry Screenings, films such as Couch Boy<\/em>,The Widowed Witch<\/em>, E.T. Made in China<\/em>, A Fish Called Wanda <\/em>have reached audiences through theatrical and online platforms.<\/p>\n

Competition is the centerpiece of the festival. For the past five years over 5000 films from 70 countries and regions have participated in the FIRST Competition. The section has helped discover and propel a number of young talents, including director Xin Yukun and his Coffin in the Mountain<\/em>, Wen Muye and his short film Battle<\/em>, and Zhang Dalei and The Summer is Gone<\/em>. Starting from year, the Competition section will give out an Audience Choice Award and Face of the Year Award, which also opens up new cooperation avenues for industry partners.<\/p>\n

The Training Camp is a professional educational forum open to all Chinese-language filmmakers. Since its inception in 2011, Training Camp has helped discover more than a hundred young filmmakers and also attracted world renowned artists such as Bela Tarr, Tsai Ming-liang and Hong-jin Na to serve as instructors. It also provided co-investment and custom brand cooperation opportunities for industry partners.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please contact xuyangjie@firstfilm.org.cn<\/a>\u00a0 for sponsorship benefits and more details.<\/span><\/p>\n

Previous Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tencent Pictures, Alibaba Pictures, Hehe Pictures, iQiyi, New Classics Media, Hengye Pictures, Hero Films, etc.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FIRST hopes to join hands with you and embark on this journey.<\/p>\n