Sponsored by
 
School of Film-TV, Shanghai University
Editorial Board, Cahiers du Cinema
Film Critics Association of China

The year 2008 marks the 90th anniversary of French film critic and activist Andre Bazin (1918-1958) and the 50th anniversary of his death. Bazin’s legacy, particularly his critical exploration of cinema’s potential in realizing human beings’ primordial desire for truthfulness and realist mode in artistic representations, has a long-lasting impact on the world film community. In the case of China, Bazin’s realist film theory was among the first as well as the most influential ones that were systematically introduced into China in the early 1980s. It helped to transform Chinese conceptions of cinema and “modernize” the film language of China.

 

In recent years, however, as film productions are increasingly channeled toward the directions of pure entertainment, commercialism, and new technology, Bazin’s insistence on cinema’s role in truthful representations is being challenged from a variety of angles. While this does not in any possible way diminish Bazin’s giant role in film history and film criticism, the current historical moment does offer us a rare opportunity for reflection. To commemorate the 90th anniversary of Andre Bazin, to actively respond to the new developments in film criticism and production, to reflect upon the role of film criticism in film culture and practice, to reformulate/reinforce the close relationship between film and reality, and to reevaluate Bazin’s historical impact on Chinese film criticism and practice, Shanghai University’s School of Film-TV, Editorial Board of Cahiers du Cinema, and China’s Film Critics Association will jointly hold the “Rethinking Film Criticism and Theory: Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of Andre Bazin” international conference in June, 2008.

 

DATE, LOCATION, SPONSORS

Date:           June 13-14, 2008 (June 12 for registration)
Location:     International Conference Center, Shanghai University
Hosts:          School of Film-TV, Shanghai University
                    Editorial Board, Cahiers du Cinema
                    Film Critics Association of China

Special Forum One:

Tribute to André Bazin, film critic and Cahiers du Cinema co-founder, and spiritual father of the French New Wave movement
Invited scholars, critics, and filmmakers from France, UK, China, and the United States will discuss Bazin and his legacy from a global perspective.

Special Forum Two:

Me and Bazin
The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth generations of filmmakers from mainland China and directors from Hong Kong and Taiwan will discuss Bazin’s influence on their works.

PANELS

• Panel One: Rethinking Andre Bazin and His Legacy
• Panel Two: Reconstructing Chinese Film Criticism
• Panel Three: Realist Film Theory in the Changing Context of New Technology
• Panel Four: Theory, Criticism, Cinema, and Reality
• Panel Five: Film Journals and Film Productions

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

1.  Submissions shall be made electronically via e-mail to the following. Submissions will be acknowledged within 48 hours. Submissions shall imply that at least one author (if your article is co-authored) will register for the conference and be present at the time designated in the conference program. The deadline for submissions is April 30, 2008.

Correspondence and submission in Chinese:
Dr. River Stone & Ms. ZHOU Yan
School of Film-TV, Shanghai University
P.O. Box 308, 149 Yanchang Road
Shanghai 200072, China
Tel: 021-56331396
Fax: 021-56333204
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it and/or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Correspondence and submission in English:
Dr. Shaoyi Sun
School of Film-TV, Shanghai University
P.O. Box 308, 149 Yanchang Road
Shanghai 200072, China
Tel: 021-56331396
Fax: 021-56333204
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Correspondence and submission in French:
Mr. LI Yang, Ph.D. candidate
Docdorat du cinema du Centre d’Etudes des Arts Contemporains, Universite Charies de Gaule
Lille III
Cell: 062440148
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

2.  Each submission must include a separate title page as outlined below:

•    Title of the submission, name(s) of the author(s)
•    Topic area(s) of the submission
•    Two or three keywords that describe the submission
•    Mailing address(es) and e-mail address(es)
•    Corresponding author if different than lead author

3.  Submissions will only be published in the conference proceedings if at least one of the authors attends the conference.


REGISTRATION FEE:

Each participant, unless invited by the conference, is expected to pay a registration fee of US$80.  This fee covers (but not exclusively) the printing cost of the collection of conference essays, local transportation, meals, banquets, and short-distance sightseeing activities.  Graduate students may register the conference at a discount rate of US$50.