Iqiyi Film Works Debut at Pingyao Film Festival Jackie Chan’s New Works Force Spring Festival File

During the 10-day film festival, three films produced by Iqiyi Film completed the exhibition and premiere. These three works include starring Yang Mi, Guo Jingfei and Hong Chi Lee, and participating in the special exhibition of the Toronto Film Festival; Director Zhang Ming was shortlisted for the new film "The Moment of Pluto" of the "Bi-weekly Directors" unit in Cannes and the directorial debut of the literary film veteran Lv Yulai.

"Baby", "The Moment of Pluto" premiered and "Taoyuan" was shortlisted for the "Chinese New Generation" unit of Pingyao Film Festival.

"Baby" held its Asian premiere in Pingyao, and this screening became the hottest activity during this film exhibition with the presence of Yang Mi, Guo Jingfei and Hong Chi Lee. The film is from Liu Jie, who has directed works such as,, and Hou Xiaoxian as the producer, focusing on the special social group of children with birth defects, and will be officially released on October 19th.

The film tells the story of Yang Mi’s role as Jiang Meng, an abandoned child who was abandoned by his parents because of serious birth defects, and saving another defective baby who was sentenced to death by his parents. Director Liu Jie threw the problem of "abandoned baby" to the audience from a neutral and equal perspective, and analyzed the hidden social pain that was neglected at present with a calm and documentary brushwork. The film creates a moral dilemma: the parents of babies with birth defects intend to give up treatment, while Jiang Meng, who is an outsider, has been trying to help the children save their lives.

Director Liu Jie once said: "When I went deep into this group, I couldn’t get an answer. Some people will stand on Jiang Meng’s side and think that every life is worth living. Others support their parents and think that a family should not bear such misfortune. "

Compared with Baby, The Moment of Pluto directed by Zhang Ming is a film with more artistic flavor. The film tells the story that the director Wang Zhun and his party came to the deep mountains of Hubei to collect scenery with realistic pressure. The film tries to present the actions and imagination of a group of people to escape the gloomy fate. Director Zhang Ming continued his work in The Moment of Pluto.The mysterious narrative style in the previous works, such as Bride, and the regional complex on the border between Chongqing and Hubei. The director once explained that the title of the film "The Moment of Pluto" refers to "being in a half-bright and half-dark moment", and every character in the film is also "being in such a dark and elusive moment" to some extent.

At the same time, the film "Taoyuan" produced by iQiyi Film was shortlisted for the "Chinese New Generation" unit of this Pingyao Film Festival. The film, adapted from Zhang Chu’s short stories, is the first film directed by Lv Yulai’s transformation. It also brings together Geng Le, Qi Xi, Lv Xingchen, Yang Qiming and other literary and art film masters to explore the contradictions, distortions and struggles of human nature under the packaging of love. In Lv Yulai’s view: "In today’s society, everyone is bound to keep moving forward for fear of being left behind in life. But in fact, everyone is eager for a quiet life like Taoyuan, so I want to explore what is Taoyuan, where it is and whether we can finally find our own Taoyuan. "

Diverse themes, devote ourselves to "quality production" and create a high-quality word of mouth

It is not difficult to see from the three works of iQiyi Film at Pingyao Film Exhibition that there are not only concerns and discussions on practical issues, but also innovations and interpretations of film art forms behind the diversified themes.

After more than four years of accumulation and deep cultivation, iQiyi Film began to exert its full strength. At the Iqiyi World Congress held in May this year, Iqiyi Film announced the film plan for the next few years. More than ten master films released have built various types of "independent content research and development systems" covering action, love, literature and art, suspense, comedy, animation, etc. Among them, there are not only commercial works that are in line with Hollywood blockbusters, but also literary films that pay attention to realistic themes, have social significance and have a small pattern.

In this regard, Yaning, president of iQiyi Film, explained that the film industry’s choice of themes and stories is in the same strain as iQiyi’s corporate culture: "We hope that these films can convey four elements: love, justice, sacrifice and hope. Although the film is an entertainment product, we also hope to bring some thoughts and touches to the audience and highlight the social significance and value of the film itself. "

In the film list of iQiyi Film, it is not difficult to see the two major production directions of the film industry at present.

First of all, literary films focusing on word of mouth and quality, from the three awards of best drama, international film critic Fabisi Award and best new actor in the 53rd Taiwan Golden Horse Award, to Taoyuan, a finalist in this Pingyao film exhibition, and Pale Blue Amber, which won the best photography award in the Asian Newcomer Award at the Shanghai Film Festival, iQiyi Film has started a high-quality creative strategy.

In the market environment that emphasizes commercial interests and values, the operation of iQiyi Film is also unique. In Yaning’s view, Iqiyi Film is devoted to the creation of art films, which is a feedback to China film industry and an important way to foster new directors and explore the new force of China films. Through a series of investment and support, iQiyi Film is expected to establish a perfect IP development chain and establish a brand image of fine content and quality products.

Focus on the head works, and "Detective Pu Songling" successively launched the New Year file and the Spring Festival file.

Creating head works is another main direction of iQiyi Film.

Yaning said that after the "brainwashing" of Hollywood movies, the taste of China audiences has become more and more "critical": "In the future movie market, there will be more space for head projects, and the audience will definitely want to see audio-visual wonders when they go to the cinema."

On the basis of ensuring diversified types, iQiyi Film will continue to focus on head works and develop large-scale investment and production projects with commercial value and influence, such as Detective Pu Songling, Animal Secret Service, Jinwuwei and other brand-new IP projects.

As the first commercial blockbuster controlled by iQiyi Film, Detective Pu Songling is produced by Forrest Gump and directed by Jia Yan, starring Jackie Chan, Ehan Juan, Elaine Zhong and Po-Hung Lin, and will meet the national audience on February 5, 2019. The animated film "Animal Secret Service" was previously selected for the French Angxi International Animation Film Festival, which is known as the Oscar in the animation industry, and was selected for the Cannes Film Festival, which will be released in the mainland on December 21, 2018.

At the same time, iQiyi Film and The H Collective Film Company of the United States will cooperate to develop international works that are in line with Hollywood, such as Secret Service League and Silent Warrior, and will also participate in the shooting and production of action movies starring Vin Diesel.