From May 19 to 23, the inaugural meeting and founding conference of the BRICS Association of Film Universities was held in Moscow, Russia. At the invitation of the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK), a delegation from the Central Academy of Drama led by Mr. Jiang Langlang, visited Moscow. The delegation included Dean Gao Xiongjie and Lecturer Ma Ruochi of the Department of Film and TV Art, and Zhang Shijia from the Foreign Affairs Office.

The BRICS Association of Film Universities is intended to strengthen co-operation in film education and production among the participating countries, and to promote the development of modern film culture. Attendees included representatives from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK), the Central Academy of Drama, the Communication University of China, Open Window Institute, the University of Tehran, the University of São Paulo, and the Film and Television Institute of India.

At the founding conference, Jiang Langlang remarked that the establishment of the BRICS Association of Film Universities would open up new opportunities for cultural exchange among the BRICS countries and research and development in visual language based on both traditional and contemporary trends. It would also allow the BRICS film schools to leverage their development potential, share experiences and innovative practices in film education, and to address pressing issues in the film industry. As film is one of the key tools for cross-cultural communication, this association also serves as a crucial platform for cultural exchange and development among the BRICS countries. With the association now established, member institutions can engage in wide-ranging cooperation, including joint training programs, student film showcases, scientific research and projects, thus ushering the development of the BRICS countries’ film education to a new level.

During the conference, Gao Xiongjie shared several AIGC works by students, displaying the proficiency and creativity of students from the Central Academy of Drama in utilizing tools such as AI-generated painting, AI-generated video, and AI-assisted screenwriting, which were highly recognized by conference delegates. Gao noted that the Department of Film and TV Art of the Central Academy of Drama is actively exploring the boundaries and potential of artistic expression in human-computer collaboration, and is committed to cultivating students’ innovative capabilities and critical thinking through AI technologies.

After the event, the delegation held a meeting with Vladimir Malyshev, the rector of the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography. Malyshev expressed the Institute’s ongoing efforts to seek new partners and directions for collaboration. He aspired to establish close cooperative relationships with the Central Academy of Drama through the founding of the association, jointly exploring the development of film education and the practical application of virtual technologies and equipment in filmmaking.

On May 21, the delegation visited the Mosfilm. Established in 1924, Mosfilm is the largest and most historic film studio in Russia and across Europe. It has produced numerous classic films such as How the Steel Was Tempered, And Quiet Flows the Don, and War and Peace. These works not only achieved great success in the former Soviet Union but also gained widespread international recognition and acclaim.

Joining the BRICS Association of Film Universities marks another important step in the Central Academy of Drama’s efforts to its educational internationalization . It will contribute to fostering broader and deeper collaboration with film schools in BRICS countries, offering faculty and students a richer and more diverse platform for cultural exchange and cinematic creation.