• Mobile version
  • Follow us on Wechat
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • App

GZDOC 2017 to propel 4K documentary production

The opening ceremony of GZDOC 2017 is held at Guangzhou Library on the morning of Dec. 12. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

2017 Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival (GZDOC 2017) officially opened at Guangzhou Library on the morning of Dec. 12, gathering academics, professionals, institutes and resources from the documentary making industries from home and abroad.

At the opening ceremony, 4K documentary was a hot topic for industry professionals who pushed for more 4K documentary production.

4K documentary format is about to experience a new boost

In October, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province signed a memorandum with the intent to ‘create an expo featuring 4K contents based on GZDOC’. (Note: 4K resolution, also called 4K, refers to a horizontal screen display resolution to the order of 4,000 pixels.)

People visit the 4K Documentary Exchange Center. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

Therefore, this year’s festival specially established a ‘4K Documentary Exchange Center’ at its main venue Guangzhou Library, and is screening 39 4K documentaries from China and overseas at 26 venues around Guangzhou, including most movie theaters, culture and art centers.

In the meanwhile, the festival has also set up a 4K Section on its online Docshop, working with 170 domestic and overseas distributors to conduct copyright trading of 4K documentaries.

This is the first group in China to begin copyright trading of 4K documentaries. It is going to promote the extensive application of 4K technology, encourage 4K documentary production and to cultivate talent in the industry.

A 4K forum is held at the 2017 GZDOC. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

More 4K forums and classes have been underway at the festival, such as the Master Class ‘From Shooting to Post Production: Uncovering the Whole Process of 4K Production’ held after the opening ceremony, and the Forum ‘Industry Trends and Content Creation in 4K Documentary’ which will be held on the morning of Dec. 13.


The opening ceremony of GZDOC 2017 is held at Guangzhou Library on the morning of Dec. 12. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

GZDOC’s international influence continues to rise

Hosted by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China, GZDOC is organized by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of Guangdong, and undertaken by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Film, Press and Publication.

After 15 years’ development, GZDOC has grown into the only national documentary festival incorporating investment, financing and trade. It has helped numerous Chinese documentaries to go global and led to a lot of partnerships being forged at home and abroad.

People browse documentaries on the online Docshop via computers at the library. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

In GZDOC 2014, a Chinese documentary titled ‘China’s van Goghs’ caught the attention of Danmark Radio and CBC Television, going into production and presage phases with the two enterprises. As part of the special screenings for the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), it was released in Dutch cinemas in 2016. It has also been selected for the final of Golden Kapok Award Competition at the 2017 GZDOC.

Dec. 12 also marks the first gathering of eight international documentary festivals at the 2017 GZDOC. The eight international documentary festival committees, including the Canadian International Documentary Festival, MIPTV, IDFA, and Sheffield International Documentary Festival, will take part in the documentary screening, proposal and pitch, and trading sessions.

Canada Theme Night is held at the 2017 GZDOC on the evening of Dec. 12. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

In addition, more international documentary delegations took part in the festival this year. Eight of these delegations were accompanied by producers, publishers and relevant associations from their respective countries and are hosting theme events during the festival, such as: ‘Polish Night’, ‘Sino-Italian Documentary Roundtable’, ‘Focus on Canada Screening’, ‘Focus on Korea Lunch’.

Related news:

GZDOC 2017 to open, leading the copyright trading of 4K documentaries

A grand gathering of documentary: GZDOC 2017 is ready!

(Author: Monica Liu; Editor: Simon Haywood)


Sino-Aussie Documentary Week [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

South China Documentary Symposium [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]


One-on-one meeting with decision makers [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

Guests have meetings at the venue of GZDOC 2017. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]


Master Class ‘From Shooting to Post Production: Uncovering the Whole Process of 4K Production’ [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

Forum ‘Industry Trends and Content Creation in 4K Documentary’ [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]


Joanna Skoczek, Consul General of Republic of Poland in Guangzhou delivers a speech at the‘Polish Night’ on the evening of Dec. 11. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

Joanna Skoczek (front, middle) poses for a group photo with Polish guests at the venue of GZDOC 2017. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]


‘Italy Theme Luncheon' is held at the GZDOC 2017 on the noon of Dec. 12. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

Paolo Quattrocchi, Trade Commissioner of Italian Trade Agency Guangzhou Office, delivers a speech at the ‘Italy Theme Luncheon' on the noon of Dec. 12. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]


‘Canada Theme Night' is held at the 2017 GZDOC on the evening of Dec. 12. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

‘Focus on Korea Lunch' is held at the 2017 GZDOC on the noon of Dec. 13. [Photo/Organizing Committee of GZDOC 2017]

Related News