On the evening of July 11, 2024 (Beijing time), the promotion conference of the 2024 Guilin Festival was held at the International Conference Center of the Papal Palace at Avignon in southern France.

Chinese representatives attending the Conference included He Shuai, Director of the Consular Section, Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China Marseille; Vice Consul Wu Xia; Hao Rong, Director of the Organizing Committee of Guilin Festival and Chairman of the Art Committee, and President of the CAD, Professor Liu Xinglin from the CAD, the Artistic Director of the Guilin Festival; Mr. Jin Dong, Member of the Art Committee of the Guilin Festival and Deputy Director of the China Coal Mine Art Troupe; and Yang Shuo, Member and Secretary-General of the Art Committee; and Dean of the CAD’s Department of Directing. The conference was also attended by foreign representatives from the Avignon Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Théaomai Artist Platform, Rome Fringe Festival, among other organizations.

Participants of the Event

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. An international promotional event for the Guilin Festival was held in Avignon to leverage the festival as a platform to promote cultural and artistic exchanges between China and France, and to showcase Guilin's rich cultural heritage and vibrant artistic creativity to France and the world. The meeting was hosted by Yang Shuo.

He Shuai giving a speech

He Shuai, representing the Consulate-General Dong Guangli of the People’s Republic of China in Marseille, extended warm welcomes and sincere greetings to the organizing committee, art committee, and all Chinese and foreign theatre enthusiasts. He expressed his anticipation that through the Guilin Festival, the cities of Avignon and Guilin, along with their respective festivals, will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, promoting cultural and artistic prosperity, cultural exchange, and friendly relations between China and France. The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Marseille stands ready to provide active support and invites French friends to participate in the related activities of the Guilin Festival, in Guangxi.

Following this, the international promotional video for Guilin tourism was played. Li Jun, Deputy Director and Office Director of the Organizing Committee of Guilin Festival, and Head of Publicity Department of CPC Guilin Committee, delivered a speech through video, extending a warm invitation for everyone to visit Guilin and its renowned scenery and global artistic atmosphere.

Li Jun extending a warm welcome

During his address, Harold David shared that he had visited Guilin upon invitation and had firsthand experience of its magnificent festival. He was deeply impressed by the festival's extensive and varied programs, as well as its unique cultural atmosphere. Harold believes that the collaboration between these festivals rooted in the two cities is in its infancy and is optimistic about the potential for deeper and broader cooperation in the future.

Harold David giving a speech

Liu Xinglin introduced the theme and highlights of the 2024 Guilin Festival to the guests present. This edition of the Guilin Festival coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Southwest Drama Exhibition, themed as "Looking Back and Moving Forward." It will feature the establishment of the "Ouyang Yuqian Drama Award" in honour of Mr. Ouyang Yuqian, one of the main initiators of the Southwest Drama Exhibition and the first president of the Central Academy of Drama. The festival will include performances by winners of the "Plum Blossom Award" from five southwestern provinces of China, as well as from the Central Academy of Drama, Shanghai Theatre Academy, and National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. Activities such as organizing a "New Ten Critics Panel," and screening the "Southwest Drama Exhibition Documentary" on the Li River, aim to vividly showcase the glorious history of 80 years ago through dialogue between ancient and modern times, blending reality with imagination. This will fully demonstrate the inspiring spiritual power of arts that is leading the era.

Liu Xinglin introducing the 2024 Guilin Festival 

Jin Dong announced the distinctive features of the various sections of the 2024 Guilin Festival. He mentioned that starting from this year, the Guilin Festival would become a comprehensive arts festival centred around theatrical art, supported by drama, music, and visual arts as its main components. As the core of the Guilin Festival, the theatre section will encompass performances of domestic and international plays, art lectures, urban arts, theatre education, and more. This year’s festival would feature a diverse range of domestic and international plays, including dramas, traditional Chinese operas, dance theatres, children's plays, environmental theatres, and other major genres. The Chinese Coal Mine Art Troupe's "Guangling JueXiang" will also be staged in Guilin.

Jin Dong introducing elaborating on the 2024 Guilin Festival

Yang Shuo introduced the "Global Young Chinese Elites Project of Theatre Directors" to the audience. As a significant component of the Guilin Festival, this program aims to select and cultivate outstanding young Chinese theatre talents. This year, two productions from the program will appear on the stage of the Avignon Festival.

Yang Shuo introducing the “Global Young Chinese Elites Projects of Theatre Directors”

A promotional trailer for the “Global Young Chinese Elites Project of Theatre Directors” showcased Zhao Miao’s directed work “Mother Courage and Her Children” and “In Cold Blood” directed by Liu Guangyuan.

Poster of “In Cold Blood”

Hao Rong extended an invitation to the world for the 2024 Guilin Festival. He first introduced the long-standing academic history of the Central Academy of Drama and Guilin's landscape and cultural characteristics. He stated that the 2024 Guilin Festival will continue to build its brand as a "young and international" festival, striving to become a globally renowned urban art event. "Those with shared aspirations are not deterred by distance," Hao quoted, welcoming everyone to come to Guilin, join the Guilin Festival, and collaborate to support the revitalization of artistic creation. Together, they aim to contribute to creating a new urban artistic ecological civilization and to jointly pioneer a more harmonious and brighter future for world cultural and artistic exchanges and development!

Hao Rong Addressing the Participants.

This special promotion coincided with the Avignon Festival, attracting significant attention from theatre groups and enthusiasts worldwide. Established in 1947, the Avignon Festival is one of the world's most renowned theatre events, having held 78 editions known for its city-wide participation and earning the title of "City of Theatre."

During the event, Hao Rong and his delegation visited the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China Marseille, discussing on in-depth theatrical arts cooperation between China and France.

Meeting at the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China Marseille

Consul General Dong Guangli of the Chinese Consulate in Marseille welcomed the promotion of the Guilin Festival and the participation of the "Global Young Chinese Elites Project of Theatre Directors" productions in the Avignon Theatre Festival. He observed that Sino-French relations stood at the forefront of East-West relations, and southern France possesses abundant cultural and artistic resources, engaging actively in exchanges with regions in China. The Consulate General will actively support both sides in conducting diverse cultural exchanges and cooperation.

President Hao Rong and Consul General Dong Guangli

Photograph of the Two Sides