STVFORUM | The Cultural Mission and Mutual Learning of Civilizations of Documentaries in the New Era
On the morning of June 27th, the 29th Shanghai TV Festival’s Magnolia Documentary Forum, jointly organized by the Documentary Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Documentary Center of Shanghai Media Group, was held at the Xuhui campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The forum focused on "The Cultural Mission and Mutual Learning of Civilizations of Documentaries in the New Era."
The forum invited outstanding documentary filmmakers, industry experts, and institutional representatives from both China and abroad to gather for in-depth discussions. The topics included how documentary filmmaking can explore the contemporary significance of traditional Chinese culture and vividly present a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China; how to keep pace with the development of the times, actively embrace technological innovation, and attract more audiences with new narratives and expressions; and how to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation, continuously produce high-quality co-productions, and promote the international dissemination of Chinese stories and the exchange and mutual learning of Chinese and foreign civilizations.
Distinguished guests and leaders attending the forum included Liu Xiaodong, Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the National Radio and Television Administration; Luo Yi, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television; You Haiyang, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television, and Online Audiovisual Program Management Department; Wang Zongguang, Former Party Secretary of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Gu Feng, Deputy Director of the University Affairs Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Hu Hao, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Director of the Publicity Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Chen Yuren, Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Shanghai Media Group; Chen Hong, Deputy Director of China Education Television and Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the Documentary Academic Committee of the China Television Artists Association; and Xia Meng, Vice President of the China Documentary Association, documentary director, and National First-Class Screenwriter.
More than 300 attendees, including representatives from the National Radio and Television Administration, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television, various provincial and municipal radio and television bureaus across the country, the Documentary Center of Shanghai Media Group, the School of Media and Communication of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, representatives from documentary departments of radio and television across the country, industry institutions, and students and faculty from multiple universities in Shanghai, participated in the forum for dialogue and exchange of ideas.
The forum featured a joint press conference and two roundtable discussions on the themes "Documentary Images, Cultural Mission, and Responsibility of the Times" and "Chinese Stories, International Expression, and Mutual Learning of Civilizations."
Forum Group Photo
Opening Remarks
In his welcome address, Gu Feng, Deputy Director of the University Affairs Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, expressed that Shanghai Jiao Tong University, with its long history and rich cultural heritage, has a tradition of integrating science and art. The university has always been committed to promoting academic exchange and cultural dissemination. This year's STVFORUM, themed "The Cultural Mission and Mutual Learning of Civilizations of Documentaries in the New Era," follows President Xi Jinping's important directives on publicity and cultural work. It aims to explore how documentaries can promote excellent traditional Chinese culture, enhance international communication capabilities, and facilitate the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations, thereby continuously improving the cultural soft power of the country and the influence of Chinese culture.
Gu Feng, Deputy Director of the University Affairs Committee, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Chen Yuren, Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Shanghai Media Group, highlighted that the annual Documentary Forum of the Shanghai TV Festival not only showcases outstanding documentary works from around the world but also provides a platform for documentary filmmakers to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and expand their cooperation. In recent years, the Documentary Center of Shanghai Media Group has been deeply rooted in the city's cultural heritage and spirit, focusing on documenting the new era. It has adhered to innovation while telling the stories of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, conveying the spirit of China and cultural confidence. This has resulted in the creation and broadcast of numerous high-quality documentaries that have garnered strong social responses and received numerous domestic and international industry accolades.
Chen Yuren, Member of the Party Committee and Vice President, Shanghai Media Group
Establishment Ceremony
To further promote academic exchange and industry practice in the field of Chinese documentaries, and to build an integrated theoretical research institution and practical application base, Shanghai Jiao Tong University announced the establishment of the Documentary Center. Moving forward, the Documentary Center at Shanghai Jiao Tong University will be grounded in the university's nationally recognized key disciplines, focusing on four main areas: documentary creation, industry research, talent cultivation, and international exchange. With a commitment to Chinese aesthetics, Chinese style, and an international perspective, the center aims to contribute to the construction of a Chinese discourse system for documentaries and to telling China's stories to the world. The center plans to form partnerships with various documentary-related institutions to co-produce significant national projects with both domestic and international impact. It will also leverage the international communication resources and platforms of Shanghai Jiao Tong University to promote Chinese documentaries' participation in international cultural exchanges, contributing actively to the flourishing and global reach of Chinese documentaries.
Unveiling of the Documentary Center at Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Joint Release Ceremony
Subsequently, the Documentary Center of Shanghai Media Group and the Documentary Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University jointly announced their ongoing collaboration on the documentary DIALOGUE WITH ASEAN a key project of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Radio and Television Administration. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Radio and Television Administration, the Documentary Center of Shanghai Media Group is producing the large-scale documentary DIALOGUE WITH ASEAN which has been listed as a key project for the China-ASEAN Cultural Exchange Year. The documentary focuses on the fruitful achievements of connectivity, cooperation, and mutual learning between China and ASEAN countries in five major areas: society, economy, ecology, technology, and culture. Using documentary imagery, it responds to the "China-ASEAN Community of Shared Future Initiative," showcasing the shared vision of China and ASEAN member states working together towards a bright future.
Release Ceremony of DIALOGUE WITH ASEAN
This documentary DIALOGUE WITH ASEAN supported academically by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, further solidifies the deep cooperation between the Documentary Center of Shanghai Media Group and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Previously, leveraging the profound academic background of the Tokyo Trial Research Center at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the international production capabilities and vision of the Documentary Center, the two parties co-produced the highly acclaimed documentary series THE TOKYO TRIALS and ASIA-PACIFIC WAR CRIME TRIALS. This time, combining their strengths once again, they aim to create another high-quality masterpiece with DIALOGUE WITH ASEAN which is expected to be broadcast in October this year.
Roundtable Forum
According to "China Audio-Visual Big Data," among the television programs broadcast on satellite channels throughout last year, documentaries ranked third in airtime, following dramas and news programs. Meanwhile, an increasing number of short documentaries are gaining popularity with the help of the internet. The roundtable forum, hosted by Chen Yinan, Director of the Documentary Center at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Professor at the School of Media and Communication, focused on the topic "Documentary Images, Cultural Mission, and Responsibility of the Times".
Summary of Guest Speeches
During the roundtable forum titled "Chinese Stories, International Expression, and Mutual Learning of Civilizations," hosted by He Suliu, Deputy Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Communication University of China and Director of the China Documentary Research Center, guests freely shared their insights on how documentaries can achieve co-production between China and foreign countries and explore Chinese subjects that appeal to international audiences.
Summary of Guest Speeches
The 29th STVF is hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration, China Media Group, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and organized by Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television and Shanghai Media Group, with co-organization by the Administration Committee of Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and special support from Shanghai Lingang Special Area Investment Holding (Group) Co., Ltd.
State Administration of Radio and Television
