Phoenix TV is hosted the 2nd edition of Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum (SLSIF) at 195 Piccadilly in London on 25th October 2024.
Supported by the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Cultural and Tourism (Radio and Television), the 2nd edition of the SLSIF focused on exceptional Chinese and British film and television projects. This forum featured keynote speeches, professional panel discussions, the launch of new China-UK collaboration projects, and screenings. The forum aims to enhance understanding and foster dialogue between the Chinese and British screen industries, promoting the successful realisation of more co-production works.
At the forum, former Lord Mayor of Liverpool Gary Millar promoted Liverpool as a filming destination for international productions beyond London in the UK via his keynote speech:
“Good Morning. Distinguished guests, ladies, gentlemen and, above all, friends welcome to London. But, for the next 4 minutes, please imagine that you are in my wonderful city of Liverpool an amazing film, trade, education, science, sports, cultural and visitor destination that is only 2 hours’ travel by train.
My name is Gary Millar, and I am Chair and President of the award winning and pioneering Liverpool China Partnership and also one of the city’s former Vice Mayors and Lord Mayor.
Did you know that Liverpool’s relationship with China dates back almost 200 years, when Shanghai seafarers first visited us in 1830?
More recently, the official Shanghai-Liverpool Sister City agreement dates back to 1999 – so I am pleased to celebrate the fact that this year both great cities celebrate our 25 year anniversary. A relationship that has boosted trade links, university partnerships and cultural exchange.
5 years ago, during our 20th Sister City anniversary, Liverpool had the honour of welcoming the Shanghai Film Week – marking its first film festival event in Liverpool. Specially curated by the Shanghai Art Film Federation, part of the Shanghai Film Distribution and Exhibition Association, audiences in Liverpool experienced four critically acclaimed Chinese-language films which represent different aspects of life in contemporary Chinese society. Shanghai, in partnership with Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Hope University and the UK-China Film Collab, hosted this important event almost 5 years to the day.
Thank you to those organisations, plus the Shanghai Media Group and its President Mr Fang Shizhong and his colleagues, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, Shanghai’s Foreign Affairs Office, the British Consul General’s office in Shanghai, British Council, and of course Jasmine Pang and colleagues for their longstanding and future invaluable support.”
During the speech, Gary Millar shared some key statistics and figures about Liverpool’s screen industries, shared by the Liverpool Film Office, the first of its kind in Europe.
According to the Liverpool Film Office, “Liverpool City Region has some of the most unique locations in the country, within a small geographical distance. Liverpool boasts some of the UK’s finest architecture, with the largest amount of Grade I listed buildings outside of London; from pristine period, modern cityscapes and rural villages, to breathtaking beaches and forests.
Liverpool’s grand architecture makes it a popular filming stand in for London, as well as international areas including North American cities: New York, Chicago, Washington DC, and European locations: Berlin, Moscow, Madrid, Normandy and more.”
Over three years, Liverpool Film Office is aiming to support 1,000 people into the industry by delivering an innovative, free-to-access skills programme to build a stronger, diverse screen sector in the Liverpool City Region.
Action! has been made possible through £2.3m of BFI National Lottery funding which was awarded to Screen Alliance North, a new skills cluster partnership delivered by Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire.
The partnership aims to make the screen sector more accessible and representative and to build a thriving and skilled workforce across the North of England (LFO).
