UNESCO Chair holder Prof Stavros Katsios invited at the opening of the new Laboratory of the UNESCO Chair at the Beijing Film Academy

Upon the invitation of the director of the UNESCO Chair in Film Art and Cultural Diversity of the Beijing Film Academy, Ms. Zhou Zhijun, the director of the UNESCO Chair on Threats to Cultural Heritage and to Cultural Heritage-Related Activities at the Ionian University, Professor Katsios Stavros, visited Beijing and Qingdao in Shandong Province, PR China.

The UNESCO Chair in Film Art and Cultural Diversity of the Beijing Film Academy and the World Sinology Center jointly established the "Art China Discourse Capability Image Analysis Laboratory." The Director of the UNESCO Chair in Film Art and Cultural Diversity, Ms. Zhou Zhijun; the Director of the UNESCO Chair on Threats to Cultural Heritage and Director of the Hellenic Sionology Center, Professor Katsios Stavros; the Ambassador of Argentina to China, Ma Zhiyuan; and the Ambassador of Peru to China, Carlos Vazquez, jointly unveiled the laboratory. The laboratory aims to integrate the academic resources of both sides in image narrative research, cross-cultural communication, and the network of Sinologists and build a data-driven, empirical analysis-based platform for film and television cross-cultural studies to explore the path of discourse construction and image expression of the international communication of Chinese culture. The opening of the laboratory is a Beijing Film Academy initiative to promote film and television cross-cultural studies and expand international communication cooperation mechanisms. It is important not only for future related research, teaching, and practical cooperation but also for providing new platform support. From film education to academic research, from creative practice to international communication, the Beijing Film Academy is exploring effective ways to serve the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations through professional skills.

The event was part of the Third China-Latin America Sinology Season of the World Sinology International Film Week (films covering a variety of genres, including drama, animation, and experimental video and presenting the contemporary Chinese social experience, cultural memory, and artistic exploration of young creators) under the title "Hundred Countries, Thousands of Images" and of the International Film and Television Communication Symposium "Dialogue and Symbiosis between Oriental Aesthetics and Global Values." As in the context of the rapid development of digital technology and the profound changes in the international communication pattern, localization and translation in the film and television industries are no longer limited to the language level but further extend to the cultural logic, narrative style, and aesthetic experience level. 

Discussions were focused on joint venture funding mechanisms; the landing of co-production projects; and student exchange and teacher exchange in film and television education, which provided new ideas for further promoting cross-cultural film and television cooperation.