The Shortlists Announcement Ceremony of the 20th Beijing International Sports Film Week (BISFW) was held at Orange Space, Vintage, on the evening of 23 August. Present at the ceremony were Han Zirong, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA), Jiang Xiaoyu, Chairman of the Jury of the Beijing International Sports Film Week, Franco B. Ascani, Member of the IOC Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission and President of Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs (FICTS), Enzo Capiello, Secretary General of FICTS, Gao Chao, Director of Press, Publicity and Cultural Heritage Department of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Fu Xiaohui, Vice President and Secretary General of BODA and Director of the Beijing Olympic City Development Centre.

（All shortlist representatives take a group photo with high-ranking officials and VIPs）

In her speech Han Zirong said that the BISFW has played a vital role in carrying forward the Olympic legacy and supporting the staging of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 (the “Beijing 2022 Games”) and served as an important bridge that helps bring China’s sports film and TV culture to the whole world. The BISFW will follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, implement the guidelines of the 20th CPC National Congress and the 13th Beijing Municipal CPC Congress, act in line with the guiding principles of President Xi Jinping’s speech at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics Review and Awards Ceremony, give full play to Beijing’s demonstration role as the first city to have hosted both Summer and Winter Olympics in the world, fully leverage the comprehensive functions of sports in building a modern socialist country in all respects, and support the endeavour to build China into a country strong on sports. The BISFW will strengthen cooperation with FICTS and continue to tell China’s stories well, promote exchanges among Olympic cities, facilitate Beijing’s role as a centre for international exchanges and better present Chinese culture to the world.

（Han Zirong delivers a speech）

Jiang Xiaoyu said that the BISFW was launched in 2005 in preparation for the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. With the support of BODA and FICTS, it has become one of the festivals of the World Champion Final of the Sport Movies and TV 2023 — 40th Milano International FICTS Fest World Champion Final, blazing a trail for bringing Chinese sports films and TV productions to the world. The 20th BISFW has forged close cooperation with the Beijing International Film Festival, universities and other domestic film festivals, enriching the entries and making the collection of works more professional and influential. The shortlists will be presented to the World Champion Final to compete with sports films and TV productions from other parts of the world and showcase the charm of Chinese sports films and TV productions. He hoped that more creators could engage in the creation of sports films and TV productions, capture the passion and dream of sports with camera, impart the spirit and power of sports with stories and together create a better future for China’s sports film and TV industry.

（Jiang Xiaoyu delivers remarks）

Describing the BISFW as the most important festival before the World Champion Final, Franco B. Ascani stated that the BISFW has served as a key bridge connecting global and Chinese sports film and TV cultures, provided strong support for the promotion of the Olympic spirit, which is in high alignment with the mission of FICTS. In his capacity as president of the FICTS, an IOC-recognized organisation with 130 member countries, he expressed warm congratulations on the organising of the BISFW for the 20th consecutive year, praising it as a significant milestone and an admirable achievement. He also thanked BODA and President of the Jury Jiang Xiaoyu for their long-term dedication to and support for spreading the Olympic legacy. He looked forward to meeting with Chinese friends again at the Sport Movies and TV 2024 in Milan.

（Franco B. Ascani delivers a speech）

The videos from Zhang Yimou and Jackie Chan expressing their best wishes and a congratulatory message from the Consulate General of China in Milan were shown at the event. Pang Qing and Tong Jian, world figure skating champions and ambassadors of the 20th BISFW, shared their experiences with the Olympic Games and profound understanding of sportsmanship. Sun Jishun, producer of On Your Mark shortlisted into the 17th BISFW, and Qiu Linkai, winner of the 20th Beijing International Sports Film Week Sports Fund, also gave talks.

（Pang Qing, Tong Jian, Sun Jishun and Qiu Linkai share their experiences and feelings）

The shortlists in each category were announced, and the trophies and certificates were awarded to the winners.Guo Zhiguo and Wei Dengfan presented trophies and certificates to the shortlists The Heroes in Their Hundreds and Grassla Love Song in the “Student Works” category.

（Awards ceremony: shortlists in the “Student Works” category）

Tang Weihong and Wang Yong presented the trophy and certificate to the shortlist The First One in “The Media’s Choice” category.

（Awards ceremony: shortlist in “The Media’s Choice” category）

Wang Maoqiang and Wang Zhu presented trophies and certificates to the shortlists Our Courtand Downhill into Wilderness in the “Shorts” category.

（Awards ceremony: shortlists in the “Shorts” category）

Chang Lin, Sun Chao and He Xinghui presented trophies and certificates to the shortlists in the “TV and New Media” category, Behind the Champion Episode 1: Wang Zhizhi, Young Players the Mountains and Asian Games Exemplary YOUNG – Hurdles.

（Awards ceremony: shortlists in the “TV and New Media” category）

Chen Xuesong and Shan Wanli presented trophies and certificates to the shortlists Invisible Summit and Qomolangma Flight Guide in the “Winter Sports” category.

（Awards ceremony: shortlists in the “Winter Sports” category）

Qin Xudong, Liu Jun and Shi Xuping presented trophies and certificates to the shortlists in the “Sport and Society/Sport and the Paralympic Movement” category, Chase for Glory, Karate Source and Hey, Paper Soccer.

（Awards ceremony: shortlists in the “Sport and Society/Sport and the Paralympic Movement” category）

Fu Xiaohui and Zhu Qinxiao presented trophies and certificates to the shortlists Football on the Roof and Wonderful Youth in the “Movies” category.

（Awards ceremony: shortlists in the “Movies” category）

Han Zirong and Gao Chao presented trophies and certificates to the shortlists The First One and 150 Seconds in the “Documentary” category.

（Awards ceremony: shortlists in the “Documentary” category）

Franco B. Ascani and Jiang Xiaoyu presented trophies and certificates to the shortlists in the “Olympic Games and Olympic Spirit” category, You Hold Up National Flag, I Hold You Up and Hi, Asian Games – Female.

（Awards ceremony: shortlists in the “Olympic Games and Olympic Spirit” category）

Han Zirong and Franco B. Ascani exchanged honorary certificates on behalf of their respective organisations.

（Han Zirong and Askani exchange certificates）

There were posters of all the 47 shortlists on the day. Behind each poster was the hard work and wisdom of the creators, testifying to the unique charm and artistic expression of sports films. At the same time, a 20-year retrospective on the BISFW was held, demonstrating the endless power of sports films.

（Poster on site）

The BISFW is an Olympic themed flagship programme launched in 2005.The 20th BISFW is co-hosted by the Beijing International Film Festival Organising Committee, the Chinese Olympic Committee and BODA and co-organised by the Press Commission of the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Beijing Olympic City Development Centre. After the preliminary evaluation, 47 out of the 275 entries were recommended. After the final evaluation by eight judges, a total of 18 shortlists were selected on 2 August. According to the Rules on Collection of Works for Beijing International Sports Film Week and Milano International FICTS FEST-World Championship Final (Beijing), these shortlists will take part in the 42nd Milano International FICTS Fest and be publicly screened in the Beijing Olympic Museum, the China National Film Museum and other places to showcase the unique charm of Beijing as the dual Olympic city, carry forward the Olympic spirit and support the sustainable development of the Olympic legacy.

Attendees at the event included representatives from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, China Central Newsreel & Documentary, Beijing Municipal Radio and Television Bureau, Beijing Radio and Television Station, the China National Film Museum, Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co., Ltd., Beijing Performance & Arts Group and the Zhangjiakou Municipal Sports Bureau, judges of the Beijing International Sports Film Week, shortlist representatives, representatives of Olympic builders and media representatives.