The Handle Climate Change Film Festival (HCCFF) marked its 10th anniversary at COP31 China Pavilion on Wednesday, launching initiatives to encourage climate storytelling and public participation.
Officially known as the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP31 opened on Monday and will run through Nov 20.
Addressing the Wednesday event Li Gao, head of the Chinese delegation to COP31 and China's vice-minister of ecology and environment, said global climate governance is at an important stage of transition from rule negotiations to action implementation, and the international community, more than ever before, needs to uphold multilateralism and strengthen international cooperation.
He said he looks forward to taking this event as a new starting point to further expand international exchanges and cooperation.
The vice-minister emphasized the importance of scientific integrity and truthful storytelling in film production, saying that high-quality productions could help build public support for a fair, equitable and mutually beneficial global climate governance system and contribute to jointly building a community of life for man and nature.
According to the organizing committee of the 10th HCCFF, it had received 1,026 films from 94 countries and regions as of Nov 1, with submissions still open. Jury members come from film, science, technology, the humanities and climate communication.
Lu Chuan, a renowned film director and chair of this year's jury, highlighted climate footage as a special and indispensable precious asset of the film industry.
The Earth belongs not only to humanity but to all living beings. Today, the global climate faces severe challenges, and climate change is affecting people's lives ever more profoundly, he noted.
"We need films to spread respect for the Earth, for the climate, for life, and for nature to the whole world," he stressed.
Li Dan, HCCFF co-secretary-general, stressed the present era as one in which "everyone is an image creator", saying, "Climate protection is not the exclusive domain of elites — everyone can participate. Film and visual media can help engage the public at large, thereby converging into a force for change."
Zhang Songwen, one of China's best-known actors and communication ambassador for HCCFF, launched a global support program for climate filmmakers at the event. The program will provide selected projects with equipment, technical assistance, professional collaboration, low-carbon production support and opportunities for wider distribution and screening.
Founder of the festival Chen Suping vowed consistent efforts from HCCFF to connect the world through film, promote mutual learning among civilizations, build cross-border consensus, and contribute to the implementation of the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement.
Through film collection, forums, screenings and workshops, HCCFF aims to connect filmmaking with climate action and public communication, while supporting implementation of the Paris treaty.
