Chongqing - The 2025 SCO Young Film Talents Exchange launched in Yongchuan, Chongqing, on October 27, advancing a film training initiative introduced this summer during the 2025 SCO Film Festival. Co-organized by the China Film Producers' Association and the Chongqing Technology Film Service Center, the event is set to deepen film and television cooperation among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The gathering brought together emerging filmmakers from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and other SCO nations. Through a mix of networking, hands-on workshops, and cultural visits, the program fostered regional partnerships and supported the development of films that reflect the diverse cultures of the SCO region - contributing fresh energy toward a stronger SCO community with a shared future.

Young filmmakers from SCO countries tour Chongqing Cloud Valley • Big Data Industrial Park. (Photo/Zhou Shuangshuang)

Activities throughout the exchange included academic discussions, cultural site visits, tech-focused lectures, virtual production demonstrations, and curated film screenings. Participants visited the Yongchuan Technology Film Studio and Chongqing Cloud Valley • Big Data Industrial Park, gaining practical experience in virtual production and other advanced technologies shaping the future of filmmaking in China. A Chongqing Daily reporter noted that many attendees captured video and photos of the immersive, tech-driven film sets.

"It's been a fantastic experience being here in Chongqing. I've been really impressed by the advanced technology, and also by the city's unique mix of innovation and historical culture. I'd love to come back someday to shoot a film here," said a Russian producer.

One filmmaker from Uzbekistan is already moving forward with plans to film in the city: "In Beijing, we learned about the history of Chinese cinema - but here in Chongqing, we're seeing its future". He is co-producing a film titled Wait for Me with Chinese partners, which will shoot in several Chinese cities, including Chongqing.

Young filmmakers from SCO countries are networking during the event. (Photo/Zhou Shuangshuang)

A key outcome of the exchange is the collaborative film project One Day in Our Lives. Filmmakers from each country will create a 15–20 minute short capturing their nation's culture, history, and contemporary daily life. The segments will later be edited into a single feature-length film.

"This project aims to build a meaningful bridge among SCO countries through cinema - a powerful medium of international dialogue," said Jiao Hongfen, Chairman of the China Film Producers' Association. He also highlighted Chongqing's distinctive cultural vibe and its track record as a backdrop for acclaimed domestic films and home to celebrated artists.

"Chongqing has a special magnetism for filmmakers. Twenty years ago, the modest-budget film Crazy Stone shot here helped launch actors like Huang Bo and Wang Xun, and put Chongqing in the spotlight," Jiao added. "We hope to build on Yongchuan's technical expertise and Chongqing's cultural richness to attract more international projects, share Chongqing's stories with the world, and support Chinese cinema in going global."