The annual Shanghai International Film Festival official opened its doors on Saturday with 14 contenders vying for the Golden Goblet, the festival's top prize. The event hosts international films coming from all corners of the globe including the Philippines, Iran, Denmark, and Japan.
Of the several regions where participants hail from, one region stands out on top. Tibet was the chosen backdrop of two of the festival's film entries: De Lan by director Lie Jie, and Soul on a String by Zhang Yang.
The two films tackle the lives of one of China's ethnic minorities, the Tibetans.
Shanghai International Film Festival overseer Wu Jeuren said in a statement, "Before, Tibet was usually portrayed in Chinese films in several ways. There were the socialist propaganda films, that were meant to show ethnic harmony and national unity, and the commercial films, which often portrayed Tibet as a kind of mythical healing land where people would go to escape."
Many critics see the recent wave of Tibetan films as an outlet for filmmakers to demystify the region, which will in turn help boost tourism in the region in the coming years. The films would also help to create a positive image of Tibet in the international community, an image stripped of exoticism, magic and fantasy. Tibetian filmmakers are offering a real and unvarnished view of the Tibetan culture and society, something that has been the subject of several discussions in the past.
Most of the films from Tibet tackle the effect of modernization on Tibetan culture and tradition. Some Chinese directors claim that these new Tibetan films present an unobstructed view of the Tibetan culture.
Most of these new films from Tibet tackle sensitive themes, especially regarding culture and religion. To make sure that these films conform to government restrictions, they are reviewed by Central Committee and the state media regulator.
