As fans lined up to get autographs, Brazilian director Carlos Saldanha made each moment memorable by adding a personal touch: drawing the beloved parrot from his animated film Rio next to each signature.

On the opening night of Brazilian Film Week, Saldanha took the stage to highlight that carefully selected Brazilian films offered Chinese audiences a unique opportunity to explore Brazil at the Beijing International Film Festival.

Brazil was honored as the guest of honor at the festival, held in April, as China and Brazil celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations this year, and Saldanha was invited to be a juror for the Tiantan Prize .

“The beauty of cinema lies in its ability to enchant us with visual spectacle and move us with emotional narratives,” said Saldanha, who also directed the Ice Age series. “It is an honor to participate in any institution that celebrates this medium, especially those that highlight the beauty of Brazilian cinema.”

Brazilian Film Week was “an exciting opportunity” to showcase the country’s cinematic works, with a diverse selection of films, which garnered “an enthusiastic response” from Chinese audiences, said Cui Yan, executive deputy director of the International Festival. of the Beijing film. steering Committee.

The opening film of the week, Retratos Fantasmas (Pictures of Ghosts), immediately captured the imagination of the audience, as the theater was packed to capacity. The film’s co-producer, who was present, expressed joy at the warmth with which audiences received the film, Cui said.

Saldanha spoke of her love for Beijing: “I always find something new to love on any trip to Beijing, from its intimate layers to its awe-inspiring landscapes, all blending history and modernity. Although there are many differences between Beijing and Rio, they share an energy unique to cities with rich cultural heritage, which are always magical places for storytelling.

In the film Rio, Saldanha expresses his love for his hometown, infusing vibrant scenes and energetic music to introduce the world to Brazilian culture. One notable feature is the inclusion of the Vista Chinesa, a magnificent Chinese pavilion located in Tijuca National Park, built in the early 1900s as a tribute to Chinese immigrants to the country.

Saldanha also praised the richness of Chinese cinema, citing Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon as his personal favorites. “China has a long history of remarkable films,” Saldanha said, adding that Chinese cinema continues to flourish and exert its influence, with recent works such as Lost in the Stars and A Brief History of a Family, enriching world cinema.

“My fellow Brazilian filmmakers and I have a lot to learn from our Chinese counterparts and vice versa,” Saldanha said. “Regardless of our backgrounds, we should all strive to develop and improve our craft by immersing ourselves in innovative and diverse storytelling.”

As part of cultural exchanges, Chinese films were released on the big screen in Brazil during the opening of the Chinese Film Festival in Rio de Janeiro earlier this month, with a selection of nine Chinese films, including the crime drama Endless Journey and the comedy YOLO, an acronym for you only live once.

In recent years, China and Brazil have strengthened their film collaboration, highlighted by a 2017 film co-production agreement between the two countries and a collaboration agreement signed in April by the Beijing International Film Festival and the Beijing International Film Festival. from Rio de Janeiro.

“Despite the differences in culture and background between China and Brazil, the deep exploration of human nature and emotional expression in the films resonate universally,” Cui said.

As both countries emphasize the importance of cross-cultural dialogue, Saldanha expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration between Brazilian and Chinese filmmakers.

“Films can bring cultures together by speaking to the universal human experience. I would love to collaborate with any Chinese filmmaker who is passionate about creating something that resonates not only in our countries but with audiences around the world,” he said. Saldanha said.