With the theme "Respecting Diverse Civilizations and Promoting Film Cooperation," the first Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival ended on June 17, 2018, building a bridge of friendship between SCO countries including China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan. By bringing these countries together and showcasing their unique art and culture through films, the five-day-long festival set a unique example by strengthening cultural cooperation and mutual support.

At the festival which was held in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Qingdao, more than 60 movies were screened with celebrated film stars and directors from the 12 member and observer states in attendance. The Chinese movie-goers therefore had the opportunity to experience the unique cultures of the SCO states through film.

Occurring right after the SCO summit, the festival provided another opportunity for two South Asian rivals, India and Pakistan, to come closer through films under the framework of the SCO. 

From India's perspective, the SCO film festival is a very important platform since in recent years, Indian films have been very popular in China, the world's second largest and fastest growing film market by value. Chinese audiences adored Bollywood films like Aamir Khan's highly successful "Dangle" and "Secret Superstar" and Irrfan Khan-starrer's "Hindi Medium." Akshay Kumar-starrer's "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" hit the Chinese screens on June 8 as "Toilet Hero" to great admiration from Chinese fans. Two Indian movies competed for awards and three were screened during the festival. 

Hosting film festivals in different SCO countries will lead to a closer affability between India and China. Actor Jackie Chan, the festival's promotional ambassador, is a household name in India. Jackie Chan and Sonu Sood's Indian-Chinese martial arts movie "Kung Fu Yoga" was recently screened in India.

From Pakistan's perspective, the festival offered an opportunity for Pakistani filmmakers to portray Pakistan as a vibrant country with great cinematic potential. Five Pakistani films were part of the 23 films in competition. China.org.cn reported on June 18 that the Pakistani movie, "Punjab Nahi Jaongi" bagged the "Jury Special Award" at the film festival. This festival also served as a bridge to help Pakistani filmmakers build on their special friendship with China.

The most important outcome of this festival was that filmmakers from China and Pakistan will jointly produce a film titled "The Journey" to illustrate international trade cooperation along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Wang Haiping, director of the script writing committee of the China Television Artists Association, hailed the joint project, saying "The intimate friendship of the people from the two countries will be highlighted in the movie."

The Chinese movie "Enter the Forbidden City" and the Afghan film "Mina Walking" took home the Best Picture Award. Filmmaker Yosef Baraki won the best director award for his feature film "Mina Walking" which portrays an entire post-Taliban generation of children in Afghanistan caring for families scarred by decades of war. In addition, Indian editor-director Mahesh Narayan along with Malayalam writer P.V. Shaji Kumar won the honor of Best Screenplay for the Malayalam rescue drama "Take Off," a fictional story of Indian nurses held captive by terrorists in Iraq.

In today's world, films are not just a way for people to pass the time; they should be enlightening. SCO member states represent a number of diverse cultures and their films serve to enhance the positive relations among the peoples of SCO countries. The filmmakers of all SCO countries should bravely project the reality of real life, in particular, giving voices to women across the region. 

The first-ever SCO film festival is a new starting point for promoting cultural cooperation among its members. It is hoped that the SCO film festival will play an important role in adding to the beauty and glamor of the SCO mechanism through films in the coming years.

The author is the cultural secretary of New Horizon Radio Listeners' Club, based in West Bengal, India. 

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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