Following China’s order to prohibit the ivory trade by the end of 2017, the upcoming Beijing International Film Festival would show the elephant conservation documentary of Netflix. “The Ivory Game,” shortlisted in Oscar Awards’ best documentary category, got a slot at the film festival which begins on April 28.
Richard Ladkani and Kief Davidson, directors of “The Ivory Game,” took four years to make the documentary. When they were making the documentary, they thought that the Chinese people would not be able to watch “The Ivory Game” legally which is why they were surprised when Beijing announced on Dec. 30 the ivory ban, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Rangers at Risk Too
The move not only saved the elephants but also rangers who protect the animals killed for their tusks by poachers, Jane Goodall, a conservationist, said. She estimated more than 100 rangers die yearly protecting the elephants from poachers despite their working with insufficient resources and not enough equipment. In contrast, poached ivory fund armed militias who battle the rangers.
Film Market Exhibition
The 7th Beijing International Film Festival would be preceded by the Film Market “Exhibition” event from April 19 through April 21 at the Beijing International Hotel. Festival organizers opened the online application on Dec. 12 which closes on March 31.
Since the festival’s launch, the BJIFF’s Film Market Department has received a lot of phone inquiries from foreign and domestic companies and organizations for the exhibition event. Exhibitors that would apply before Feb. 10 would be given a 30 percent discount on standard and special booths.
The 7th BFM exhibition is spread in 4,253 square meters, including five joint pavilions that measure more than 100 square meters. The exhibition would have 12 special booths and 100 standard booths, with the special booths measuring 36 square meters while the standard booths measure 9 square meters.